Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A skyhigh apartment with a view over New York City in the middle of Manhattan could be enough for someone to wake up happy and think about all that one has. But if you were feeling like you were stuck between those walls, it was more like a prison, instead of heaven.

It felt that way for FP Jones. Most people would say he had it all. He lived in the most expensive neighborhood of one of the most expensive cities in the world, he had made it as an artist, had thousands of fans who followed his life work called Southside Comics and he had a beautiful wife. What more does one want?

But if he was being honest with himself, Southside Comics, the comic book series he had been creating for the past ten years, had been both his dream and nightmare at the same time.

It had all started when he was still a young teenager. He was poor, and life at Sunnyside was anything but easy. It was always a question if they would even have something to eat at night, or whether this would be their last week with a roof above their head. Fortunately there was one escape FP always had: drawing.

He had never been good with words, and therefore chose to do the one thing that helped him express himself. Creating visuals instead of having to talk about what he felt. His life was being turned into a comic book, the same ones he used to read as a kid. However, his stories didn't have a hero, just raw honesty.

It wasn't until his wife, Gladys Jones, had helped him make his work successful. Barely ten years ago his very first comic book was released and it had been a success ever since.

FP knew he should be happy, but he just simply wasn't. In fact, he couldn't even remember the last time he was happy.

There was one person who made it all a bit bearable— his best friend Hermione Gomez. Without her, he wouldn't have anyone to rant to and nobody would have his back. She was a lifesaver, the one to keep him afloat.

She lived in the same building he did, and they never hesitated to stop by each other's place. It made them both feel less lonely.

That afternoon, they were at her apartment, both with a glass of red wine in their hands. However, Hermione noticed that his mind was anywhere but in the present with her.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked him, as she put her wine on the table in front of her.

FP hesitated for a second, but then reminded himself that it was his best friend sitting across of him. He could tell her anything.

"About Gladys... things have been hard lately." He said, looking down at the liquid in his glass.

"Are you still happy?" Hermione dared to ask, though she could read the answer in his eyes.

"When was I ever?" FP scoffed, now looking up to meet her eyes. It was painful answer, but the most honest one he could give.

"I'm stuck, Hermione." He said sadly, almost desperately.

"In your marriage, you mean?" She questioned.

Hermione knew like no other that his relationship with Gladys was anything but healthy, but he never found the courage to divorce her, or to really be honest about how he felt. There was always a reason to shut his mouth.

"Yeah, but with my work, too." FP sighed.

His marriage problems he could deal with, especially when they had been there for years. It was nothing more than trouble that weighed heavily on his well-being, but what he succeeded in pushing aside as much as be could. It was his work problem that bothered him most.

"I just can't finish my story. It seems impossible." He took a sip of wine, before putting his glass aside.

FP wasn't sure what to do anymore. He was being pressured to send an ending, to finally finish the work he had been making for ten years. Southside Comics would come to an end, and the way his readers made known they couldn't wait any longer wasn't very helpful either.

Hermione chuckled a little, which confused him. What was so funny about his struggles?

"What?"

"Maybe that's because everything you've written so far is from your memory. You can't write an ending yet because it hasn't happened yet." Hermione said, stating the obvious.

"Go to Riverdale. Find out the ending." She encouraged him, her eyes twinkling.

If there was one simple solution to everything, it was FP going back to his roots, where it had all started. Hermione believed he wouldn't be able to write anything that he hadn't experienced yet.

"I'm not sure if I can, Mione." FP backtracked a little, afraid of what would happen if he would set foot in the place that he used to call home.

"You still go there... how are things?" He asked, a little insecure but curious.

Throughout the years he had always avoided to talk about Riverdale as much as he could, but for the first time he was the one to ask about it.

"If you're asking me if I have talked to, Alice... I haven't. You should find out yourself, FP." Hermione wished she could help him, but this was his journey and she couldn't do it for him.

"It's been sixteen years, I can't just show up. That's too hard. My heart breaks even thinking about it." He gazed down to the floor.

The longer he waited, the harder it became. As far as he was concerned Riverdale was nothing more than a memory from the past that he used for his success.

"FP, every year I ask you to come visit the town with me, and every single year I can see that you want to. I think it's time, no matter how scared you are to see Alice. You need to end your story, on paper and in real life. You owe that to yourself. It won't happen if you keep on wondering."

He knew she was right. God, he hated it when she was right. But that was her job, as his best friend. She always saw things clearly when he couldn't.

"Will you go with me?" He asked her, his eyes pleading.

"I'm afraid I can't. I think you should do this by yourself." She placed her hand above his and gave him a sympathetic smile.

Hermione vowed to always be by his side, but she knew that if she would go with him, he would try to hide behind her. If he was going to Riverdale, he needed to be vulnerable.

"When did you become so wise?" FP joked and chuckled slightly.

Although he felt disappointed that she wouldn't join him, he could see what she meant. Hermione smiled back at him, before her face turned serious again.

"Listen, I know that seeing Alice will be very difficult, but don't you want to know how she has been? Connect with the real thing and maybe your ending will come to you."

**

FP was focused on five different iPads, trying to get something down to at least have a draft that he could revisit later. Next on his sketch table were the old school paper and pencils. It's how he had started before technology took over and he hoped that maybe going back to those roots would spark something.

He stared outside the window of his apartment for a second, seeing through the big glass wall that showed him the city that never sleeps. It had become his home, but even the dynamic city that he looked out on didn't give him any inspiration the way it had done before. He sighed deeply and focused back on the paper, pencils and iPads in front of him.

However, his bubble burst when he felt two hands sliding down his chest from behind him, effectively startling him. He could feel someone press kisses on the side of his neck but he wanted nothing more than for her to leave him alone.

"Gladys, I'm working." He argued, trying to gently push her away a little.

"Take a break." She hummed, her hands traveling all over.

"No, I can't." FP said shortly, hoping that she would take a hint.

But instead of accepting his rejection, she saw this as an invitation to go even further. Her hands slowly started to unbutton his dress shirt and he tensed up immediately.

"Stop that!" He exclaimed, trying to wiggle himself out of her hold.

Gladys took a step back and rolled her eyes annoyed, but her mood quickly changed when FP got up from his chair and took his suitcase from underneath their bed.

"Where are you going?" She questioned, both suspicious and confused.

"Riverdale." He stated plainly.

"No, you're staying. You can finish your story here, you just don't want to." Gladys crossed her arms and gave him a stern look, showing him that she was the one in control here, just like she always had been.

"I can't breathe here, Gladys. I need to go back to my roots, to what I really am. Or... was." FP said a little confused, not sure where this sudden impulse came from and questioned if this was the right choice. All he knew was that he needed to get away from her.

"Exactly. Was." She emphasized, her eyes still as cold as ice.

But he ignored her. Instead, he threw as much as he could into his suitcase, not bothering to fold it nearly. That was a problem for later. Gladys seemed to notice that she was losing, too.

"I made you to who you are, FP. I think I know what I am talking about when I tell you that it's important to stay here. Your deadline is close, the company wants you around. We need your ending." She told him, trying to make him look at her so she could win control back.

However, she had already lost by a long shot. He was leaving. The sight of all these expansive tailored pants and fancy dress shirts in his suitcase that suddenly didn't feel like him at all, confirmed that even more.

"To hell with them. They don't have anything without me and I am not going to finish this anywhere else but Riverdale." A sudden boost of confidence hit him, confusing himself even.

"It has taken you months, why do you think you can finish it there? You're running, because you're a coward." She spat at him, hoping that maybe he'd realize that this was a bad idea.

"Because my answer is there." He told her, before leaving out of the door to make his way back to the town where it had all started.

**

Ever since Alice Smith had been a teenager, she'd say nothing much had changed for her. Alright, she had gotten a son at seventeen, which she had named Charles. That was quite a big change.

Sunnyside trailer park had been exchanged for a small but cosy apartment close to the Whyte Wyrm, the bar that she used to come to as a Serpent, a place which she now owned. And instead of being in the Serpents, she ruled them. Alice Smith was the Serpent Queen of Riverdale. So yes, maybe she had to admit that things had changed. But at heart, she was still the same woman.

A knock on the door stopped Alice from cleaning the tables. She threw the cloth over her shoulder and unlocked the front door, but as soon as she saw who was on the other door, her face fell.

"It's payday."

Hal Cooper stood there, on the other side. He had a smug smile plastered over his face and held up his hands for the envelope of cash.

"Be silent. My son is inside." She hissed through her teeth, before discreetly handing him the money.

"I believe that is your problem." He spat back, unimpressed by her comment. With a quick glance he opened the envelope to count all that was in there.

"Hmm, just enough this time. Make sure no penny misses, okay sweetie?" He smiled wickedly and swiftly squeezed her cheek.

Usually, Alice Smith would floor every single man that touched her unwanted, or who dared to intimidate her. But Hal had the power here. He was in control. So, she had to settle for giving him a disgusted look.

"But if money is tight... we could have a little repeat of our fun?" He winked, as he leant nonchalantly against the threshold.

"Get the hell out of here, Hal." She barked, wanting nothing more for him to get out of her sight. Not only because she couldn't stand him, but also because she was too afraid Charles would see him.

"As you wish. See you next month." He turned around to walk to his big, shiny car, finally giving Alice room to breathe.

She walked back inside as if nothing had happened, preparing herself to come up with some kind of excuse if Charles would ask who was at the door, but instead she found him completely soaked into a Comic book. He hadn't heard a single thing.

"Honey, did you do your homework?" She asked him, as she placed a few barstools down to prepare the bar for opening in a few hours.

"Hello?" She said a bit louder, when he didn't respond.

"Sorry, what?" Charles looked up from the booth he had settled in, almost with a desoriented look on his face.

"Homework?" Alice cleared up.

"Yeah, done." He said, before turning back to his book.

"Haven't you outgrown these Comics?" Alice sat down across of him and read the title. Southside Comics, the ones he had been reading all his life.

"In your dreams. We're almost at the end, I can't give up now." Charles said, as he eagerly turned the page.

"I've waited ten years to find out if Annie and Finn get together. It's no time to back out now." He pointed out, a grin plastered all over his face.

They were definitely his favorite characters, and he just couldn't wait to find out that they ended up together. Little did he know how close this fiction was to reality.

"Why do you care so much? They are just fictional characters, sweetie." Alice shrugged, though part of her wished that he wasn't so attached to this particular comic because of other reasons.

"They are way more than that, Mom. I grew up with them. Their journey is mine." He said, giving her a soft smile.

As a kid, he didn't used to have a lot of friends. He used to be the outsider, the silent one. Things were good now, but his whole life these comics helped him escape into a world when reality became too much too handle.

"And don't pretend you don't care. I've seen you read it." He teased, making her smile a little.

Of course she had read it. But not because she loved comic books that much.

"I will admit that the story is alright." Alice smirked.

"Do you think they'll make it?" Charles asked hopeful, wanting to know her opinion on the characters's story.

"I truly don't know." She said sadly, her mind wandering to the man that was closer than she thought he was.

**

"There is my favorite gangleader!" Fred said happily, as he walked into the Wyrm an hour for opening time.

Ever since they were teens, he had been her best friend. She told him almost everything, and he didn't have any secrets for her either. Whenever he had the chance, he'd stop by to spend time with her.

"There is my favorite mayor." Alice smirked back from behind the bar.

It had always been his dream to run this town, to change the world. And three years ago, his hard work had paid off. Fred Andrews had become mayor. It was his way to change the world for the better.

"You want a drink?"

"Soda is fine." He said.

"Always going for the smart choice." Alice teased, as she filled his glass.

"I'll take his drink." Charles said, who came walking to the bar as well and took a seat next to Fred.

"Nice try, honey." Alice handed him a glass of soda too.

"Hey, is there a new edition out?" Fred noticed the comic book in Charles' hands and took it to take a quick look.

"Yeah, it's a good one." He said happily, finding comfort in how excited Fred seemed to be too.

"Hmm, is Frank in it? He's my favorite." He smiled, as he scanned through the pages.

"He does remind me a little of you." Charles said, smiling a little.

"Go to page twenty-seven. Something cool happens there between him and Halley." He encouraged eagerly, wanting nothing more than to talk about it with Fred.

"Before you guys get swept up, I need your help Fred. My computer is acting up." Alice made him look up from the comic, which he handed back to Charles.

"Sorry boy, with women around you're never done working." He patted his shoulder as he jumped off the barstool.

"Frederick!" Alice called him, giving him a stern but playful look.

"Coming boss!"

Charles chuckled as he watched them leave to the back. He wanted to focus back on the comic, before hearing a knock on the front door of the Wyrm. In that very moment Charles had no idea that with that knock on the front door, their lives would change forever.

Chapter Text

Charles looked up from his comic book when he heard someone knock on the main entrance of the Whyte Wyrm, but before he could get up to check who it was, the door slowly squeaked open.

A man with thick raven colored hair, rough stubble, a neat dress shirt and tailored pants that Charles assumed were more expensive than his whole wardrobe, poked his head inside almost a little scared.

"Sorry, we're closed." He said, giving the man a polite smile. The Wyrm wouldn't open until five, so he was at least two hours early.

"Oh, I am not here for a drink. I'm looking for someone. Something tells me she's here. Alice Smith?" FP made his way inside, trying to come across as confident as he possibly could.

However, behind that facade, his heart was beating in his chest so hard, that he was afraid he was going to faint.

"Oh yeah, she's here. She'll be out soon, you can wait here if you'd like." Charles gestured towards the barstool next of him, unaware of who the man really was. Only time would tell.

FP sat down, feeling more uncomfortable than ever. He could still leave, if he wanted to. This boy had no idea who he was, nor why he came here. If he'd flee before he got the chance to ask his name, Alice would never know that it was him that had been visiting her. But just when he thought about getting up and leaving without another word, he noticed what the boy next to him was holding in his hands.

"You read these Comics?" He asked him, a smile curling on his lips.

It was weird to see someone holding and reading his work. FP knew that he had hardcore fans all over the country who couldn't wait for the next edition to come out, who had followed his story from the start, but having someone read it so closely to him without them knowing that he made them was a new experience. Refreshing, he thought.

"Yeah yeah, laugh all you want. Everyone says I am too old for this." Charles smiled halfheartedly.

He was getting tired of people telling him what he could and couldn't do on his age. He was only sixteen, he was still allowed to enjoy things that were such a big part of his childhood, wasn't he? It made him happy, and that was all that mattered.

"I wasn't going to laugh at all. I made these." FP told him, a proud smile curling on his lips.

Charles' eyes grew wide. Was this the man who created the work that had gotten him through the roughest time in his life? The characters that were always there for him, whenever he needed them?

"Wait, you're FP Jones? You created Southside Comics?" He asked, both excited and totally blown away. Suddenly, he wasn't sure how to act.

"Yeah, I did. Great to see you love it so much." FP gave the boy a warm smile. Talking to him had made his worries about seeing Alice fade to the back of his mind.

"That's why you looked so familiar! I have so many questions, do you mind?" Charles asked eagerly, wanting nothing more than to finally knowing all the things about the comics that had been on his mind for years.

FP chuckled. "Ask away."

But before Charles could even open his mouth to say anything, Alice and Fred returned from the back. When they noticed the man next to Charles, they both froze. Alice felt as if the air had been knocked out of her, as if this was some sick nightmare that felt awfully real.

It was really him. He might dress differently now, and he might have grown a small beard, but it was undeniably him. His brown eyes were still as innocent as ever and the way his lips twitched when he was nervous hadn't changed either. And yet, Alice knew that things would never be the same as they used to be.

And though she had no idea what brought him to Riverdale, she knew only one thing— she needed to get him away from Charles as soon as possible.

"What are you doing here? Get out." She hissed, still frozen in her place.

"Can't a guy order a drink in his old bar?" FP questioned, following her movements when she got behind the counter.

"I don't serve traitors." She spat back, her eyes spitting in a dangerous and threatening way.

"I didn't come here to fight." FP said, his voice soft.

And though he remained calm, seeing Alice had his head spinning. He might have changed, but she still looked almost exactly the same. Her hair was shorter and a little lighter and her curls were less messy. He had always known her with brown hair, but he couldn't help but think about how beautiful the blonde color looked on her.

But aside from her haircut, he could still recognize her perfectly. She still wore the same oversized band shirts and either her tight black jeans, or her ripped denim ones. On her fingers she wore a lot of rings, as usual and her neck was covered in several necklaces. He wondered if she was still wearing the one he had given her, with his ring hanging on it. But before he had the time to look for it, she spoke again.

"Too bad, because it's what you're getting." She angrily started to clean some of the beer glasses.

"Alice, all I want is to talk to you." He tried again, his tone still soft and inviting as he possibly could be.

"I have nothing to say to you, FP." She roughly put down the glasses, almost breaking one.

There flashed hurt in his eyes, but she didn't want for it to make her feel guilty. After what had happened in their teen years, there was nothing left to say. A lame excuse from a rich guy who had made it and left her here wouldn't change anything.

Fortunately, Alice wasn't alone. There was someone else who was curious about his return.

"Why are you back in town, FP? You haven't been here for sixteen years." Fred was the one to break the silence between the two adults who had been staring at one another.

"Came back for inspiration, to finish my story. But maybe the ending is crystal clear." FP said lowly, as his eyes shifted from Fred to Charles, to back at Alice again.

He felt stupid for believing that maybe there was something left of the past, that maybe in Riverdale he would find the one thing that he had been missing. But it looked like he was too late. Maybe his story wasn't getting the ending it deserved.

"He created my favorite Comic! Can you believe that?" Charles beamed happily, trying to lift the tension surrounding them.

But it didn't work. It only scared Alice way more for reasons he still couldn't understand, so she gave Fred a look that he got immediately.

"Charles, come. Let's leave them alone." Fred placed his hands on the boy's shoulder to softly usher the both of then outside.

"Alright..." Charles mumbled, both confused and worried. His mother looked clearly upset and it made him not want to leave her.

As soon as they were out of sight, Alice's head snapped towards FP again.

"Inspiration? Really, FP? Is the excuse you came up with?" She asked, still in full defense. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alice wasn't done with her rant.

"What do you really want for me? To brag about your fancy life as an artist living in your penthouse in New York? To tell me that you are swimming around in your endless coin pool like Groose McDuck? Wanna rub in how you made it? What is it? What's your angle?"

She was trying her hardest to seem tough, to pretend that the only emotion she felt was anger, but truth to be told, she knew he could see she was hurting too.

"There is no angle. I couldn't finish my stories in the city." He explained her, though calm on the surface, his blood pressure was rising.

All he wanted was one simple conversation and even that seemed too much to ask. But she was the one in the wrong, from his perspective. Why was she being the one acting so defensive? He had nothing to apologize for, he believed.

"They are just Comics, FP. How hard can it be? You've got to come up with something better." She scoffed, now breaking the eye contact.

FP was done fighting about this with her. Maybe she was right, maybe it was a bad excuse. Maybe all he wanted was to see her one last time, to close that chapter of his life.

"That boy, is that your son?" He asked, as he mustered up the courage to give words to his curiosity.

"Why do you wanna know?" She answered, without missing a beat.

FP sighed deeply. Even talking about her kid was too much too ask, even when at this moment he still had no idea it was his son he was asking about.

"My life is none of your business, FP. It hasn't been ever since you decided to leave." She said, more hurt than she would like to show.

"Now get the hell out of my bar."

**

After a long night of work, she finally had someone to take over the bar, giving her the time to think and go to her best friend's house, who always had a listening ear for her.

As soon as she walked inside his house, she let herself fall onto the couch with a loud sigh. She looked miserable, something that didn't go unnoticed by Fred.

"So I see you're taking FP's return well?" He asked, a little sarcastic. He took a seat next to her on the couch.

"What is he doing here, Fred? Do you think he knows? What if he's here to take Charles away?" Alice clutched her knees to her chest and looked at him with fear shimmering in her eyes.

"Alice, relax. I don't think he's out to get you." Fred told her, hoping that she'd see that she was spiraling.

Sure, FP had some explaining to do but aside from that he didn't believe he was a bad guy. After all, they had no idea how his life had been like the past sixteen years.

"Oh yeah because our reunion was a blast." Alice rolled her eyes.

She got up from the couch and made her way towards his kitchen, where she looked through the cabinets.

"Do you have double stuffed Oreo's?" She asked, without stopping her quest.

"No, just regular." He said.

"Oh great, as if anything could go right today."

Alice exhaled deeply but found the package nonetheless, which did cheer her up just the slightest bit. She dat back on the couch again and began to eat it all, not caring if it would make her nauseous.

"Hey, come here." Fred opened his arms for her and she immediately cuddled into his embrace. He stroked her arms softly, while Alice tried to fight against her tears.

"What do I do, Fred? I thought he'd never return and now he's back? Why would he leave New York?" She questioned out loud, her voice fragile.

"For inspiration." He said, repeating the words FP had spoken earlier that day.

"You believe that story?" Alice pushed herself up from his chest and arched her eyebrow. To her, it was clear that it had been nothing more than a disguise for his real motive to come to Riverdale.

"Why would he lie?" Fred questioned, not seeing how lying would get him anywhere.

"To get under my skin, of course! To attack me when I least expect it." Alice exclaimed, while her mind was thinking of all the scenarios where FP had a dark plan to take Charles from her, or to hurt her once more.

"I know FP has changed an awful lot, but he's not a monster. Cut him some slack." Fred said, his eyes soft and innocent like they always were.

"He gave you the cold shoulder, why do you stick up for him?" Alice asked, a little annoyed. But she already knew exactly why.

"Nevermind, I know the answer. You're Fred Andrews, you'll never say anything bad about anyone. Not even about your friend who ghosted you." She said, which Fred didn't argue with.

People saw him as a pushover sometimes, but he'd rather saw himself as a loving and forgiving person. No matter what FP had done, he could forgive him.

"Maybe give him a chance. He meant a lot to you." Fred said carefully, as his hand landed on her knee.

"In another life, Fred. That's over now." She said, her eyes twinkling with tears.

"I don't think that is true, Alice. I know there is more." He looked at her knowingly, and those very words made her think about how he once was her whole world.

Chapter Text

Charles just finished his sandwich when he looked at his mother, who had made some fresh coffee for the both of them. She handed him the warm mug with a smile, before sitting down across of him at their dinner table. Usually Charles wasn't really the talkative kind of guy in the morning, but today he had a burning question on his mind that he just needed to get out.

"Hey Mom, how do you know FP Jones?" He asked, trying not to strike a nerve.

It had been clear that whatever their relationship was, they parted ways on bad terms. He had no idea why his mother wouldn't tell him she knew the creator of Southside Comics. That fact only made Charles more curious than he already was. Were there was wrath, there was history. Alice remained silent, pretending not to hear him.

"That man that was here yesterday?" Charles cleared up, when he didn't get a response.

"I know who you meant, I just wasn't going to answer you." Alice said, without looking up from the magazine she was ready.

"Wow, that bad, huh?" He arched his eyebrow.

"I thought we didn't have any secrets to one another." He hoped that maybe the empathy card would help, but then again he knew his mother too well to know she wasn't going to take the bait if she really didn't want to.

"He's just a ghost from my past, honey. That's all you need to know. Don't worry about it." Alice said, now meeting his eyes and giving him a small smile.

She got up from her chair and took her bowl of cereal with her to the kitchen, which she put it away in the sink. She needed to keep herself busy, before she let her emotions get the best of her.

"I hope he's still around. I didn't get a chance to ask my questions." Charles said, believing it was no big deal.

"Stay away from him, okay?" Alice said instantly, locking eyes with her son.

"You're acting really weird. Is he violent or something?" He questioned.

"No, he's not."

"If not, then I can choose for myself if I look for him. A few questions wouldn't hurt. He's used to that." Charles pointed out, assuming that since his Comics had tons of fans, that he didn't mind a few questions from a fan he had met. It was daily business for him.

"We're done talking about this, but please just for once listen to me. Now is not the time for teenage rebellion." Alice pointed out once more, making sure that he knew not to cross this line.

"Besides, it's just a comic, Charles. Let it go." She said bitterly, oblivious to how his face fell when he heard those words. To him, it was so much more.

**

Alice was making the bar ready, when the squeak of the front door caught her attention. It was FP again, still dressed in his expensive dress shirt and tailored pants. She still believed he was just trying to get under her skin with his fancy outfit.

"Hadn't I been clear yesterday?" She shot at him in an annoyed tone, stopping her movements.

"I knew you held grudges Alice, but what could I have possibly done that you're still angry about sixteen years later?" FP stopped at the bar and arched his eyebrow.

Her mouth fell open. How could he possibly not be aware of what he had done when it was perfectly clear? This was deeper than a grudge, she had been angry, frustrated and broken hearted for so many years because of him and he had the guts to ask why she was mad?

"Are you kidding me? Did the expensive champagne you've showered in the past decade give you memory loss?" Alice spat angrily, losing her already very thin veiled patience.

FP's eye brows crinkled in confusion. The story was so crystal clear to him and he didn't see how she had any reasons to resent him, to actually be mad.

"You left us without much of a second thought, FP. I had to hear from some random cheerleader that you were off to the city, to never return." Alice tried to remain though, but even after sixteen years he could see the shimmer of hurt in her eyes.

But he couldn't focus on that. Not when she was accusing him of leaving when he believed he had all the reasons to go without a word.

"Hey, you were the one that went behind my back when I thought we actually had something. After that, I owed you no explanation, Alice. You were the one that betrayed me, not the other way around." He said, clearly frustrated with her.

Alice scoffed. Did he really believe that? At this moment she thought it'd be better for him to leave forever, because now she was only growing more and more angry with him. She had never betrayed him and she never would.

"Wow, you clearly don't remember anything about high school. I took us seriously, FP. You didn't and you know that perfectly well. If you ever cared in the slightest, you wouldn't have left me or Fred without a word." She spat, trying to hold back her tears.

It was FP's turn to scoff. He loved her for crying out loud, how could she possibly forget what she had done to make him leave? How could she claim to have taken them seriously when it had been so clear that she wasn't committed to him? He wasn't blind, nor was he naive.

"I can't believe you. Have you always been like this? Did you always like to turn the tables? You know exactly why I didn't say goodbye and pretending that you don't is actually insulting." He said, shaking his head. He had expected more of her, at least to be honest about their past.

Alice was ready to say something in return, but as she opened her mouth FP spoke again. He was done arguing. He gave up. Neither of them would win, they would just lose together.

"But you know what, it doesn't matter, right? It worked out perfectly well, with your happy little family. I don't even know what I was thinking. Why did I want to return to a town to see the ending of my story, when the ending always has been perfectly clear?" His eyes filled with tears, but just as Alice he had become a master in disguising his pain. He had sixteen years of practice.

"I'm happy for the two of you. I don't doubt you make great parents." He tapped with his fingers on the counting, while trying his best avoiding to look at her. And as he looked away, he missed the shocked expression on Alice's face.

FP believed Fred was Charles' father. He was mad because he believed that she had gotten a child with his best friend. He had never returned to take Charles from her, because he didn't have a single clue that he was his son.

And though Alice knew that she should've corrected him, she couldn't get those words out of her mouth. She needed time to think. So, instead of telling him the truth she softened her face and spoke.

"I want you to go, FP. Please. For the both of us. I can't talk about this, not yet." Alice said, her voice fragile and quiet.

"It's too painful." She sniffed, and her eyes begged him to understand.

FP looked up to meet her eyes.

"You are right, it is." He croaked.

Maybe it was time for him to leave for good. He had returned to Riverdale to find the ending to his story, and realized that maybe Charles' existence was the most obvious sign of how it was always supposed to end. Maybe she belonged with Fred, maybe he had been stupid enough to believe that there was something left of the spark that was once there.

But before he left, he took something out of his briefcase.

"Here, this is for your son. He told me he's a fan and I had a few limited editions in my car. I think he'll like it." He gave a weak smile.

FP placed it on the counter and left the bar, to give them both some air.

**

Charles made his way into Pop's after a long day of school, planning to order his usual and sit in a booth all by himself and just enjoy being on his own for a little while, giving himself time to process the day. He did that often, but when he saw a familiar face standing at the counter he decided to change his plans a little.

"Mr. Jones! You're still in town." He chirped, as he walked over to him.

FP looked sideways and met the kind eyes of the boy he had seen not long ago, at the Wyrm. He was the one who was a big fan of his work, he remembered.

"You're Alice's son, aren't you?" He asked, to clarify.

"My name is Charles. Pleased to meet you." Charles said politely, giving him a warm smile.

"I don't want to take too much of your time, but could I still ask you my questions?" He was a little nervous, but he couldn't let his window escape.

Though he remembered what his mother had said, he just didn't want to miss out on such an amazing opportunity. What she didn't know couldn't hurt, right?

"To be honest, I am not sure if your mother would really appreciate it if I hung out with you." FP said, smiling a little uncomfortable. He would love to talk to him, but he also didn't want to anger Alice more than she already was.

"Yeah, she can be a real pain in the ass. Take everything she says with a grain of salt." Charles chuckled a little. He loved his mother dearly, but in this case he believed she was overreacting.

"You tell me." FP laughed back, feeling a bit of the tension vanish.

He still hesitated for a few seconds, but then decided that he should give the boy a chance. Maybe talking about his work with someone who had read it for years would spark some inspiration in him.

"Alright, just for a little bit then. Let me order some milkshakes and you can ask me anything you like." He said, smiling at the teenage boy.

Charles nodded eagerly and confiscated them a booth and after a little while FP returned, offering him a vanilla milkshake.

"So, in your last edition we see Finn not being sure whether to stay in town or not, but why would he leave Annie? It seems so out of character for him to go, after they have spent their whole childhoods together." Charles asked immediately, not wasting any time.

He had known these characters for ten years now, and ever since he had read the cliffhanger of the last edition, he had been confused. Wasn't it simple? To him, it looked like Finn loved Annie, and Annie loved Finn. What had gone wrong?

FP knew that he had to be careful with his words, considering Charles had no idea that the stories that he writes are more real than he could imagine, or he could tell.

"I guess I would say that Finn is struggling with how close Annie and Frank have become. Not everything always works out, Charles. Not even friendships." FP said, his face turning sad.

"He's not sure staying is the right option. He wants to protect his own heart." He added, before sighing deeply.

"But Annie and Frank are just friends, what does he have to worry about? Don't you think she loves Finn?" Charles asked, only growing more confused the more answers he got.

"That's the thing I've been asking myself ever since before I created the very first edition, Charles. I don't know. I truly don't know." FP shook his head just slightly, now growing confused too.

How could it be so clear to Charles that Alice had loved him when he was so sure that she loved Fred? Was his own mind playing games with him?

"And you came to Riverdale for answers?" He questioned, growing curious about his trip to their little town with pep.

"Yeah, and I think I got it." FP said quietly.

"So, you know how to end your story?" Something began to twinkle in Charles' eyes.

While FP could see why that would make sense, he couldn't give a satisfying answer. He wished things were that simple, but coming back here for inspiration had only made things more difficult.

"...No. I don't think so. It's complicated." He said, which was the most honest answer he could give the boy.

"Well, I hope you stay around a little longer." Charles said softly, giving him a warm smile. For some unexplainable reason, he liked him.

"You know that if I do, I'm risking a shiner from your mother, huh?" FP arched his eyebrow with a chuckle.

"She'll come around." Charles laughed, but he could feel that things would be different, that FP had a mission here that he couldn't give up on.

Chapter Text

With no mood to cook, Alice had gone to Pop's to pick up some food for her and Charles. She was patiently waiting at the counter, when she felt the presence of someone who was coming to stand next to her.

When she glanced sideways, she noticed it was FP. She let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, making known to him that she was anything but happy about running into him.

"You're still in town, I see. I thought you said you were going to leave. That's what you're good at anyway." She said bitterly, trying to hit a sore spot.

After their last conversation she had figured that he had left Riverdale, but what was unknown to her was that FP's conversation with Charles is what made him stay, eventually.

"You can't tell me where to be and where not to be, Alice. You don't own the damn town." He said annoyed, waiting for Pop to come out so he could order something and leave right after. Today he wasn't in the mood to talk to her either.

"Then at least stop stalking me. It's creepy." She said, looking straight ahead instead of giving him any eye contact.

"Ever heard of a coincidence?" He arched his eyebrow as he looked her way.

Alice ignored him, mostly because she didn't have a comeback and secondly because she didn't want this to escalate. The faster they were out of there, the better.

As they waited next to one another uncomfortably, FP's eyes fell on a flyer on the counter. He noticed the big green serpent out of thousands. It said that there was a celebration for their Serpent Queen. The flyer was merely an open invitation.

"Having a party, tonight?" He questioned, waving the flyer her way.

This time, she looked at him.

"Yes. To celebrate that I've been Serpent Queen for ten years." She didn't even crack a smile.

"Impressive. Never thought you'd stay with the Serpents that long, let alone become a gang leader." FP said, his voice a lot calmer than a few minutes ago. He truly meant well, but Alice couldn't hear that.

"Not everyone has a better option, FP." She spat at him, feeling that he was purposely trying to throw in her face that she had been stuck here, while he lived his dream.

"I didn't even want to celebrate it anyway, Charles insisted. He organized the party." She told him, trying to take a breath and not get mad at him for his comment. After all, she did appreciate her son's effort.

"But you're not welcome so don't even think about showing up." She added instantly.

"Who said I wanted to come? Don't flatter yourself." FP shot back, as he let out a scoff. Alice remained silent.

"I talked to your son, by the way. Real nice kid." He said, after a moment of deafening silence.

"You think so?" She wondered, her voice soft this time.

"Yeah, he seems like a dreamer. Reminds me of you." He told her, the faintest of smiles on his lips.

"Dreams are not reality, FP." Alice said, as she casted her eyes away.

"You don't have to tell me, Alice. I know more about that than you think." FP said, trying his hardest not to let his eyes shimmer because of tears that were welling up.

"Your dream came true, FP. Don't pretend you know what it's like to be stuck in the same place." Alice said, scoffing a little.

He had everything, didn't he? He was rich, had a loft in New York, a wife and a successful career. What was there for him to complain about?

"You couldn't be more wrong. Never thought that you'd ever turn so shallow. You should know better." FP said, avoiding to look at her so she couldn't see the features of hurt on his face.

But while he looked away, Alice was trying to catch his eyes. For a brief second she was about to ask what he was talking about and let him explain why his life was as awful as he thought it was, but then her order was being placed on the counter.

"Enjoy your meal. Still a cheeseburger with onion rings and an ice tea, right?" FP said, still knowing her usual by heart, after all these years.

**

The party was crowded, even more so than expected. Alice was the best gang leader they had in decades, and they would honor her as such. At the start, lots of them had been skeptical about a woman leading a gang, but she had earned their respect fairly quick. Nobody messed with her, so nobody messed with the Serpents. She did everything to protect her own.

Fred was there as well, standing behind the bar for the night. He had offered it himself, especially since he was mayor of Riverdale. He felt like it was his duty to understand the daily life of its citizens, and of course he would never miss the celebration they had thrown for Alice.

But then he saw a familiar face walking their way, the last person he had expected to see tonight.

"FP, what are you doing here?" Fred asked confused, as FP sat down on one of the barstools.

"Nice to see you, too." FP said sarcastically.

"Alice will freak out if she sees you here." Fred warned him carefully. He didn't want to sit in the middle when things would get explosive.

"I am not afraid of her, Fred." He said, looking up at him.

And while what he said was true, he had no idea how Alice would react to him being here. However, before he'd find out, someone came walking his way with a big smile on his face.

"Mr. Jones! I didn't know my Mom asked you to come. Or did you see the flyers I made?" Charles questioned curiously, as he stood next to the creator of his favorite story.

"Yeah, saw them at Pop's. You've done a great job." He complimented him, giving the boy a sweet smile.

"I'm glad to see you, maybe it gives you some inspiration for your story. It's about Riverdale, isn't it?" Charles asked knowingly.

After thinking of the way FP reacted to his questions, he had assumed that it was more than just fiction. And with a name like Southside Comics, he believed that the gang in the story was based on the Serpents.

Charles thought it was pretty cool that he set his story in the town he came from, and it made him wonder even more why he had never realized that. All these years he had been reading a story about his home town, without knowing.

"You put those puzzle pieces together perfectly. It is." FP said, impressed that he had found out so quickly.

Hopefully he didn't know it was about his mother just yet. As long as he believed these characters were fictional, he was in the clear.

"Still can't believe that the comics I grew up with were about my own town. My mom never told me." Charles said, as he sat down next to FP on one of the barstools.

"Maybe there's a good reason for that." Fred answered, hoping that it'd be the end of the conversation. They were in dangerous territory at the moment.

"Are you still going to tell me why you're so mad?" He turned his attention towards FP, and though he tried to hide the frustration in his voice, but it was no use. All he wanted was to know what he had done wrong.

"I'm not mad. I was but... it doesn't matter now." FP exhaled deeply.

He wasn't even sure what he had Fred to blame for. Maybe he had fought harder to be with Alice, harder than he ever had. If he was happy with her, then the only person he should he mad at is himself.

"Here, a beer on the house." Fred offered, feeling a little sorry for him. Not only because he could see that his friend was struggling, but because he knew Alice had a secret hidden from him.

He wished things would be different, that he didn't have to lie to the boy that felt like his own, and to the friend that used to be like a brother.

Before Fred could let something slip, Alice had made her way up to the stage. It was time for her speech, which is why all eyes turned her way. She stood in front of the microphone and looked around the bar, feeling grateful to have so many people out there who were here to celebrate her first decade as Serpent Queen. She took a deep breath, before she began to speak.

"Thanks to all of you who came to celebrate with me tonight. It has been an honor to be your Queen for ten years now, something I couldn't even have imagined when I myself was a young Serpent. Thank you, for your trust. It's not easy as a woman to lead a gang, but during my time as your leader I realized that we're more than that. We're a support system. We're a community. And I'll hope we'll be like that for the next ten years as well."

She gave a warm, grateful smile as she looked at the people who had put so much trust in her for the longest time. However, there was one person who made it all possible, the one that would always be at her side.

"I wanted to thank someone special, someone who I love more than I've ever loved anyone." She looked for him in the crowds, until they locked eyes.

"My son, Charles, who organized this here today. There are people in your life who will leave you when you least expect it, who stab you in the back when you need them most... but you're always there and I know you always will be. You're my sun, honey. You're the reason I survived and the reason I want to keep fighting for a better world, every day. I love you."

Her eyes twinkled as she looked at the one she kept fighting for everyday, the one that made her want to make the world a better place. He was her pride and joy and she'd protect him forever if she had to.

"I wonder what's that like." FP turned to Fred and sadly tapped his fingers on the bar.

"What? To be Serpent King?" He questioned.

"No. To have that kind of love for a child. Your own child. I don't have that." He confessed, his eyes twinkling with hurt.

Everyone kept always talking about his career and how much money he makes, but his biggest dream was having a kid. But yet that one was the only one he believed would never be reality.

"You must know what I mean, I can imagine how proud you are of Charles." FP smiled a little.

However, Fred had no idea what FP was actually saying. To his ears, it sounded like he was talking about the special bond he had with the boy, not realizing that FP thought he was his actual dad.

"Love the kid like crazy." Fred beamed brightly.

"You don't have kids?" He asked him curiously, wondering why he didn't.

"No. I don't see that happening anytime soon either. Guess it's not for everyone." FP shrugged sadly.

Fred felt truly bad for him, not only because for the first time he could see that FP wasn't okay, but more so because he knew that he did have a kid out there that he didn't know anything about. But before he could give him any encouraging words, FP had watched Alice leaving the stage to make her way outside. He gave Fred one more glance before standing up from his barstool to make his way over to her.

When he exited the bar, he noticed her standing against the wall, her eyes fixated on the stars as if she was trying to look for answers. And though she didn't look at him, she had heard his footsteps.

"I told you that you weren't welcome. I want you to go." She said, as she looked down at the ground.

But FP didn't move. He wasn't going to walk away this time. He came in peace, and he was about to show her that.

"You had a nice speech." He said, his voice soft and sweet.

"Thanks. Was that it?" She arched her eyebrow as she looked sideways to meet his gaze.

"No. You look great. I'm proud of you." His eyes twinkled, but Alice couldn't deal with it. Not now. Everything was confusing enough without them getting close.

"FP, don't do this. Don't give me compliments like everything is fine." She said, her voice laced with hurt.

FP sighed deeply. At least he had tried.

"As you wish, Alice." He said quietly, before turning around to make his way to his car and leave the Southside.

**

FP returned back to his hotel room, his heart feeling heavy and his eyes still glistering from the tears that he was fighting against. He had no idea why he was still trying. What did he expect? That she would be waiting for him with open arms? That she would've apologized the second that he'd set foot in her bar?

Of course not. Things had never been simple with Alice and this time wasn't any different.

There was just one person he could call who'd make him feel better about all his life choices, who he'd could count on even on his worst days. Hermione Gomez. His best friend. Without a second thought, he called her. It only rang two times before she picked up.

"Hey, how's Riverdale? Did you talk to Alice?" She smiled from the other line, all the way back in New York.

"It sucks, Hermione. I'm going home." FP said, already looking for his suitcase to gather his belongings and get back to his apartment, back to the life he hated so much.

"Was it that bad?" Hermione questioned, suddenly feeling worried that not going with him might have been a mistake.

"We're broken beyond repair. Whatever there was between us once upon a time, it has vanished. It's gone. The ending is clear, it's all over." FP rambled, trying his hardest to stop his quivering lip.

On the other line, he heard a small chuckle. At this moment, that only infuriated him.

"What's so funny?" He asked, trying to remain calm instead of lashing out to her.

"You're giving up. And I don't think you should." Hermione said firmly.

She had never known him as quitter and it was hard for her to believe that FP would throw the towel in the ring and come back here without having had a real talk with Alice.

But there was just one thing that Hermione didn't know yet, one thing that changed it all. One thing, that wasn't the truth.

"What is there left to fight for? She has a kid with Fred for Christ sake." FP said, harsher than he intented.

"With Fred?" Her voice cracked and suddenly she felt incredibly small.

"Yeah... I'm sorry, Mione." FP said quietly, knowing that after all these years her biggest regret not asking Fred to move with her to New York when she left. Or better said, part of her wished she had stayed.

However, she didn't want to dwell on that now. It was her turn to support her friend and that is what she was going to do.

"Do you at least know how to finish your story?" Hermione asked.

"No. I don't. I don't want it to end like this." FP said, as he sat down on the bed of his hotel room and rubbed his face.

"Then you need to stay until you're satisfied, FP. Fight for the right ending."

Chapter Text

After having Hermione's words echo through his mind the whole night, he decided that she was right, as always. Not all was lost yet. And even if there was nothing left of what once was, he didn't want to leave town on bad terms. Not again. So, he locked his car and made his way towards the Wyrm, until suddenly he lost his balance and was being pushed to the ground by two strong arms that attacked him out of nowhere.

In a reflex, he braced himself for the worst, but when he rapidly looked around he saw four men hovering over him, holding him down. FP was about to raise his fist and defend himself, when one of the guys held down his arms into the gravel. The next thing he knew was that a punch was being delivered to his jaw and when he groaned in pain he got another one, in an attempt to knock him out. 

He tried to kick to get the men off him, but it was no use. Another punch followed right on his temple, making him feel naseaous and dizzy. He couldn't see, he could barely breathe, his heart rate had increased rapidly and all he wanted to know what these sudden attackers wanted from him.

However, FP didn't give up that easily. He pushed one of the robbers away, in a weak try to break himself free, but it was impossible to win it against the other three when he was all by himself.

Or so he thought.

He wasn't sure what was happening, but suddenly he felt one of the men being pulled off him, which was followed by a loud groan. The distraction gave him the time to overpower the two that were still holding him down, while the other went after his mysterious helper.

When FP crawled up again, he could look at the one who came as an angel from heaven to save him. It was Alice.

This was how he had never seen her before. Almost effortlessly she defended herself against two grown men, as if she knew exactly what they were about to do and when. A few kicks and punches followed, eliminating them as their opponents.

But FP didn't have time to stare, as he still had two other men to defeat. He bawled his fist and punched as hard as he could in the face of one of them, while succesfully kicking the other right into his chest.

"FP, watch out!" Alice called, noticing that one of the robbers was trying to attack FP from behind.

He turned around, but he didn't have enough time to react. However, Alice took a piece of wood that had broken free from the porch of the bar and smacked him hard.

It seemed that the four knew that they couldn't defeat them together, which is why they ran off as fast as they could, leaving FP and Alice in front of the Wyrm. FP looked at them get out of sight, while catching his breath as much as he could. He felt awful.

"Fucking hell, who were those people?!" He touched his jaw with his fingers, immediately regretting it when he felt how much it hurt.

"Ghoulies. They might have been waiting for the right time to attack." Alice said bitterly, her eyes still glued to the spot they had run off too.

"And they had to pick me? Jesus Christ." FP hissed when he noticed the blood on his fingers and his bruised knuckles.

"You're parading around with your Rolex, they can smell that. There bloodhounds." She told him and for the first time that day met his eyes. It was no secret to see that she was shaken up too, even while she tried to remain tough.

"Hate that thing anyway." FP groaned, looking down at his watch. It surprisingly didn't have a scratch.

"Come, let's patch you up." Her face softened and she gestured to the Wyrm, inviting him in.

He didn't react, but just followed her. He was too overwhelmed because of the attack to even say anything. So, for the first time since his return the two didn't fight. Instead, he let her lead him to one of the booths and sat down next to him with her first-aid kit.

In utter silence, she dipped the cotton in alcohol to clean the wounds on his face, and the scrapes on his knuckles. She hoped he didn't have a concussion.

As soon as the cotton hit his face, he hissed through his teeth. She wished she would've gotten there sooner so they wouldn't even have thought twice about attacking him. That was the one perk as Serpent Queen. Rival gangs were afraid of her.

She took the bandage and carefully wrapped it around his fingers with a soft touch. He looked at her as she took care of him and when her fingers grazed his palm, he felt his whole body shiver. It was so soft and delicate, and though it wasn't romantic in any way, he still felt like something was shifting.

"Is this fine?" She asked him quietly, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He gave her a small smile.

"You had some sick moves out there. I knew you had some tricks up your sleeve, but this was impressive." He told her, as he looked at how she was cleaning the scrapes on her own knuckles just to be sure.

"Got to learn how to defend myself as a woman, don't I?" She said, smiling a little.

Ever since she was young she had to fight harder than any of her male friends and had to work twice as hard to prove herself worthy of wearing the Serpent Crown.

"In this world? Sadly, yeah." FP said, giving her a weak smile.

"Fortunately you were never afraid to put someone in their place. I think it was my luck that you were around." He pointed out, as she tried to stretch his hand to see if anything might be broken. Bad move, because it hurt like hell.

"I wouldn't call that luck, when you were walking towards my bar. The odds were pretty high." She told him, laughing a little, while letting his hand rest again. He needed to be careful the following weeks to let the injury heal.

"What were you doing here anyway?" She questioned.

"Came to talk to you." He told her.

"I know what you said, and I am not here for a heart to heart talk, don't worry." He added immediately, before she got the chance to be mad at him.

"All I am asking is for us to put our weapons down. At least for as long as I am in town." FP looked away, afraid to read any kind of rejection in her eyes.

But if he had looked, he would've seen that it wasn't there.

"Alright. I think I can do that." Alice said softly.

Maybe it was the attack that had just happened, or that she somehow felt relieved that he had stayed, but she believed that for now they could talk like grown-up.

"How's the inspiration going?" She asked, genuinely hoping that things were better.

"Fantastic." FP sighed sarcastically.

"Maybe it doesn't matter where I am, I'll keep being stuck. I don't know." He shrugged, shaking his head confused.

"You'll figure it out, I'm sure." She placed her hand on his arm for a brief second and squeezed. He gave her a small smile in return.

"What does your husband think about you protecting men who get robbed?" FP questioned, his eyebrow arched.

"No man is going to tell me what I can and cannot do. But if you're talking about Fred... we're not together." Alice said, looking at him knowingly.

FP felt his cheeks blush. He had never thought otherwise. It all just made so much sense to him. However, it seemed that their relationship hadn't last, not even after having a kid together.

"Oh, sorry I... assumed." He said, clearly uncomfortable.

"He's my best friend." Alice smiled weakly. Somehow, she hoped for him to understand what she was trying to say, but FP didn't seem to catch on. He was too focused on the pain in his hands and his face.

"Come, I'll make you a drink." She gestured for him to come over to the bar, where he sat down on one of the barstools, while she got behind the counter.

He watched her mix a few drinks together before setting it in front of him with a colorful straw.

"What's this? A cocktail?" He asked judgingly, looking at it a little queasy. Wasn't that a sixteen year old girl's drink?

"Stop whining and drink it. It will make you feel better." She told him, shoving it a little closer to him.

With a little hesitation, he took a long slug as she looked at him wickedly. And though he didn't like to admit it, it tasted delicious and somehow made his body more relaxed.

"Alright, I have to admit that this is very good." He said, laughing a little before setting his lips on the straw again.

"I'm always right, Jones." Alice gloated.

FP chuckled a little, feeling glad that Alice seemed more relaxed around him. Maybe there was a chance of them being friends, someday. It was all he dared to hope for.

However, he hadn't gotten breakfast yet and he drank his cocktail like it was lemonade, making it easier for him to loosen up a little and let go of his filter.

"Maybe this is just the alcohol talking, but have I told you that you're still crazy hot?" He smirked, while eying her up and down.

Nothing would ever look as good on her as tight black jeans, a low cut shirt and her Serpent Jacket. On top of it all, he was obsessed with her blonde curls and her subtle make up. She used to wear this very dark shade on her lips, and while that had always driven him crazy, the nude lipstick color truly was something else.

"Are you trying to get into my pants?" Alice irked her eyebrow with a sassy smile.

"At least we're not talking then." He pointed out, his crooked smile reminding her of old times.

"You do make a very good case, and I have to admit, you do clean up nice." She smirked and looked at his face, finally admitting out loud that she believed he still looked good.

"Yeah? You like the beard?" FP said proudly, grinning even brighter.

"Hate to admit it, or give you any kind of compliment really, but it does look hot." Alice leaned with her forearms on the counter, giving FP an even better look on her cleavage. He stared for a moment, barely realizing he was doing it.

"Could you make an official statement?" He smiled, loving to tease her. It was how they used to be, just for a little bit.

"I was liking you for a brief second there, thread lightly." Alice teased, before getting up again.

"I was just kidding. Not about you being hot though, that was the truth."

FP chuckled, before turning more serious. In the end, he just got robbed barely fifteen minutes ago and he wondered if maybe this happened more often in Riverdale.

"Is there anything I can do to make it more safe here? Wouldn't want anyone besides me to get hurt." He asked, genuinely concerned. They could joke all they want, but the robbery was a serious issue.

"That is not your responsibility, FP." Alice said, feeling where this was going.

"I know, but... I've got money. At least that way I can use it for a good cause." He proposed as modest as possible.

"I don't want your money, FP." Alice said defensive, hurt flashing in her eyes.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to offend you." He said immediately, hoping that she would accept his apology. He just wanted for Riverdale to be safe for anyone, including her.

"It's fine," Alice relaxed her shoulders and gave him a small smile. She knew he meant well.

"I think it's pretty amazing that this bar is all yours." FP looked around at the place that held so many memories.

"Couldn't imagine anyone more suited to lead the Serpents. You're great at what you do." He told her, hoping that this time he was allowed to compliment her.

"Thank you. That means a lot." She tried to hide the proud smile on her face, but it was no use. She had worked hard for this, so getting a compliment felt good.

"How about you? You must be happy too, with your big success." Alice said.

"Yeah... very happy." FP tried to force a smile, and fortunately she didn't question it any further.

**

As always, Alice had invited herself to Fred's home to eat all his cookies and basically everything he had in his cabinets or fridge. But today wasn't like any other day. While she was tough, fierce and feisty, she couldn't ignore how the robbery this morning was affecting her.

"Are you still shaken up about FP?" Fred asked, seeing in her eyes that her mind was wandering.

Alice sighed as she let herself fall onto his couch. It had plagued her mind all day.

"I might not be his biggest fan right now but I don't want to think about what would have happened if I hadn't been there." She said, swallowing hard. He would have gotten seriously injured, Ghoulies didn't care about hurting the one they were after.

"We're trying our hardest to fight them, Alice. I promise you." Fred told her, referring to the rival gang of the Serpents.

"I know Fred, you just want this town to be safe, just like I do." Alice gave him a warm smile. At least she always had a partner who'd fight with and besides her.

"Is there something else that is bothering you?" He questioned, having a gut feeling.

Alice hesitated, but then reminded herself that this was Fred sitting next to her. She could share all her troubles with him.

"A little while ago... FP told me that he thinks you are Charles' father. Up till today he even thought we were together." She confessed quietly.

"I haven't closed an eye ever since. It was one thing that he didn't know about his existence, but now they've met and... it's all getting so messy." Alice shook her head confused.

"You're scared, aren't you?" He asked, giving her a sympathetic smile.

"Scared to lose, Charles, yes. Maybe even scared to lose, FP. Or at least whatever there is left to lose, if there even is anything." Her eyes glistered with tears. She knew that from the moment she'd tell the truth, everything would change.

Fred scooted over closer to her and wrapped her up in am embrace.

"I'm going to tell Charles." She said quietly, her head muffled in his chest.

"He's grown up, he deserves to know." She added in a whisper, as if saying it as quiet as possible would it make any less real.

Alice pushed herself up from his chest and looked right at her friend.

"...And I realized that FP does deserve to know. No matter the heartache." She said, a little bit more confident this time.

"But before I can do that, Charles needs to know the truth."

"Will you be there, when I tell him?" She asked insecurely, needing for him to be at her side.

"Of course." Fred was always going to be by her side, forever.

Chapter Text

Charles came home a little later than usual, but when he did finally arrive home he was welcomed with the delicious smell of lasagna. It had always been his favorite meal, from as soon as he could eat solid food and tasted it for the very first time. However, he had no idea that it was a distraction for was about to happen tonight.

He smiled at Fred, who poked his head out of the kitchen to greet him. It was no surprise to see him in their home, which happened more often than not. Charles was glad to see the man that helped his mother raise him. He had always been the father figure he never had. Up till today.

"Are the three of us eating together tonight?" He questioned, as he looked in the small kitchen of their apartment to take a sneak peek.

"Yes, I cooked!" Fred beamed brightly. He loved taking care of Charles and Alice, even with something as simple as cooking.

"Alright!"

Charles made his way over to the couch and let himself fall down, as he watched his mother setting the table.

"By the way, Mom, FP was at your party. That was kinda nice, don't you think?" He chirped, giving her a heart warming smile. He believed for it to be a very nice gesture.

"Very." Alice said plainly, continuing to put down some glasses.

"I ran into him a little while ago, he was at Pop's." Charles continued, oblivious to his mother's nerves.

"And yes, I know what you've told me... we just talked a little bit about his work, don't worry." He said quickly, before she'd lecture him again.

"He seems like a great guy, why are you so mad at him?" It was a question burning in his mind ever since their first encounter, and finally dared to ask it.

Alice finally looked up and met Fred's eyes, who just came walking out of the kitchen. She had planned to talk to him after dinner, but it look like the opportunity to open up was about to present itself. She couldn't run away from it, she had for sixteen years, but the past was about to catch up with her. He needed to hear it from her before he'd find out himself.

"That's actually something that I wanted to talk to you about." Alice began carefully, as she sat down on the couch next to him.

Fred took off his apron and sat down on the chair, knowingly looking at the two. Charles seemed to notice that something was off, because his face was tensing.

"You were right. There shouldn't be any secrets between us. And I've been keeping this one for longer than I'm proud of." Alice's eyes started to gloss over, which only concerned Charles about her well-being.

"Mom, are you okay? I'm worried about you." He said, scooting over closer to her as he looked straight into her eyes. Usually he could feel exactly what was wrong, but today that seemed impossible.

"If this really hurts you, you don't have to tell me." Charles added immediately, giving her a soft smile. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel pressure.

"No honey, I do. I really do." Alice sniffed, before taking a long breath.

She looked at Fred one more time, before speaking the words that had been hidden away for sixteen years.

"FP is your father, Charles." She said in a small whisper, as the first tears fell from her eyes.

The blood disappeared out of the young boy's face. The man that he had looked up to all his life, the man that created the world that was his biggest escape was his father.

"He's my... father?" He stammered out, his mind spinning.

"You always told me you didn't know." His voice cracked, which only made Alice even sadder than she already was.

"You not only kept this from me, you straight up lied." Charles felt the anger building up in his body, as every frustration, every insecurity of not having a dad that had been somewhere buried deep down came back to the surface.

"You've known this for sixteen years and you never bothered to tell me!" He stood up from the couch as he yelled at his mother, who only cried harder and harder.

She had nothing to say, nothing to make things better for him. Her only job was to protect him, to care for him, to keep him safe. And yet, she felt like she failed at that by not being honest with him before.

"You held me every single time I cried when I told you I felt like part of myself was missing, when I wished I knew so I wouldn't feel this empty void all the time. You always had the key to help me find part of who I am and you rather saw your own son miserable than to face some high school fling of yours?" Charles kept on ranting, his eyes filled with tears from the hurt in the anger that was rushing through his veins.

"Honey, it's not like that...Your father and I..." Alice's croaked out, but she couldn't even finish her sentence.

"It's exactly like that!" He exclaimed loudly, not giving her a chance to talk. Charles was too blinded by his own emotions to even consider letting Alice do her part.

However, Fred was still there and he felt like he needed to step in.

"Charles, the story between your mother and FP is a little bit more complicated than you think it is. Please, let her explain." He said calmly, hoping that he could take a breath and hear the full story.

Fred's attempt was useless. All he heard that he wasn't only betrayed by his mother, but by his father figure as well.

"You knew? You knew he was my father?" Charles asked, his voice fragile.

Fred looked back at him, completely defeated. He knew there was no defense that could explain him why he had kept this secret too, not one. And so, neither of them could protest when he stormed out of the door.

"Leave me alone, both of you!" He yelled, before running away, leaving Alice in tears in the couch in the now very empty apartment.

**

Alice had been tossing and turning all night. She had called Charles several times, but he refused to pick up. All she could hope is that he had run off to a friend that could keep him safe at night. She understood that he needed space, but all she wished for was a sign of life to know that he was okay.

However, when the morning came she got a call from the principal's office that only made her worry more. Charles wasn't at school, which meant that he hadn't been with a classmate of his. She did the one thing that came up in her to do. She called Fred. He immediately picked up the phone, as he had waited anxiously to hear from her.

"Fred, Charles hasn't come home all night. School just called, and he didn't show up." Alice said frantically, as she was shaking slightly.

"We'll go look for him, I promise you we'll find him." Fred said instantly, as he abandoned all his tasks for today for this search.

"What if he never comes back, Fred?" Alice asked afraid, fearing the worst.

"He will, okay? He will. This is Charles we're talking about. You two are two peas in a pod. He's upset, but he won't run out on you." Fred reasoned with her, which made her take a long breath. He was right. He'd come back.

"I'll go check Pop's, you can check the park, okay? Let's call each other after that." Fred said, knowing he had to take the lead because at this very moment, she just couldn't.

**

Fred ran his way into Pop's and looked around the diner to get a glimpse of Charles, but instead he found someone else. It was the boy's father. It was FP. He was sitting in a booth with a bunch of paper in front of him and thousand different pencils. Funnily enough it still looked exactly the same as it had done when he was seventeen.

"FP, you're still here..." Fred said, a little confused. He figured that after his previous encounters with Alice, that he would have decided to leave.

"I might not be welcome in the Wyrm, but Alice can't tell me not to be in the diner. Besides, we're having a truce, if you must know." FP said, harsher than he intended.

"Or are you going to kick me out of your town, Mr. Mayor?" He arched his eyebrow at Fred, who sighed deeply.

"As much as I want to know why you are so mad at me, I don't have time for that now. Charles has disappeared." He told him, clearly worried. FP's anger wasn't a main concern of his.

"What do you mean, disappeared?" FP's face softened. He didn't know the boy that well, but this couldn't be a good sign.

"He got some upsetting news last night and ran away. He's been out all night." Fred told him. He wished he could tell the full story, but that wasn't up to him.

"I need to go, sorry." He turned around to rush out of the door again, before FP spoke up again.

"Wait, I could give you a hand." He offered.

Fred gave him a small smile. That was generous of him to do, especially when he had no idea that the reason Charles ran away had everything to do with him.

"That's very kind of you. Please, check the drive-in. I'll go to the Bijou." He said, thinking it'd be best for them to split up.

"If I find him, I'll return to the Wyrm." FP promised.

**

FP had parked his car just outside the Twilight drive-in, a place that more memories to him than he could even think off right now. But the most important one of all, was his very first kiss with Alice, right there. He hadn't been back here ever since he had left for New-York. It still felt the same as sixteen years ago.

His nostalgic reminiscing was being put on hold when a little further away he saw the young boy sitting on one of the old trucks, one that had been here as long as he remembered. It was almost a piece off antique.

"Hiding from someone?" He spoke up, which caught Charles' attention.

Charles swallowed as he looked up at him. For the first time he looked FP in the eyes knowing that he was his father. He wondered if FP knew. If he had to trust the look in his eyes, he had no clue. But no matter how mad he was at his mother, for now he was keeping his secret. Not only to calm down and give himself space to realize what this all meant, but as much to protect his mother.

"...Yeah, kinda." He said sadly.

FP carefully sat down next to him on the truck, hoping that he wasn't scaring him away.

"What did your Mom do?" He asked him, figuring that had something to do with her.

"How did you know it's my Mom?" Charles questioned, for a brief second thinking that FP did know.

"Because you said she's a pain in the ass." FP cleared up, repeating his own words from days before.

"You could say that, yeah." Charles frown only grew deeper.

"Hey, I was just kidding. What is going on?" FP said softly, hoping that he could get the boy to open up just a little bit.

Charles looked at his father and his innocent brown eyes and tried to swallow away the words that his mind was begging to scream. He wanted him to know, he wanted to fall into his arms and tell him how much he had missed him. But could you really miss someone you've never met? Charles believed he could, because there was no other way to describe what he was feeling.

But this wasn't a movie and he wasn't the one in charge of the story. So far, his mother still was. He didn't want to take that away from her the way she had taken his chance away. Instead, he settled for telling FP the way he felt about his mother.

"Did you ever experience how frustrating it is to love someone even though they have betrayed you in a way you thought they never would? The one person you thought you could trust with your life just stabs you in the back and you can't even find yourself to get mad?" Charles said, his eyes twinkling with exhaustion and tears.

"I have, yeah." FP confessed quietly.

"And all that energy... just has nowhere to go." Charles sighed deeply.

"I wish I had some good advice for you, kid... but that's not really my thing." FP gave him a small smile.

"But I do think that your mother has a good heart. So, if she hurt you... she probably didn't do it on purpose." He told him, which where they only words of comfort he could offer.

"Why do you stick up for her? I thought you hated one another?" Charles questioned, wondering where this protective behavior came from.

"Because sometimes we love people no matter how hard we wish to hate them." FP said sadly, as he swallowed away his tears.

Charles gave him a small smile back. It was clear that the man who turned out to be his father had unresolved feelings for his mother, which shouldn't give him hope, but it did.

"Tell me about you. Do you have a family?" He asked, curious and sweet. It was the only way he could get to know more about his father without being invasive.

"Well, uh... I'm married. My wife Gladys and I live in New York. She helped me make Southside Comics a success."

"Are you happy there?" Charles dared to ask, even though he knew he was crossing into personal territory.

"I can't remember the last time I was happy, boy." FP said.

"That's sad." Charles answered.

"Well, if you put it that way." FP chuckled a little and for the first time that night cracked a smile.

Charles dared to smile back, even for just a second. For some reason, it felt good to talk to him when he was still unknown of the real relationship between the two.

"I bet your Mom is worried sick. What do you say we'll head back to the Wyrm? I promised to bring you home safely if I'd find you." He rested his hand on his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Alright. But on one condition." Charles said, waving his finger in the air.

"And that is?"

"That you stay in Riverdale, for a little while." He said.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Charles." FP answered reluctantly.

"Only for you to finish your stories! Please?" His eyes were begging him to stay and said the words that his mouth couldn't. He needed his father to be around, before it was too late.

And FP couldn't figure out why, but for some reason he wanted to stay for him.

**

As soon as the doors of the Wyrm opened, Alice's eyes snapped up immediately. He was back again, with FP by his side.

"Charles!" Alice immediately ran his way and pulled him into her chest, holding onto him as if he'd disappear again if she'd let go.

"I'm sorry for running." Charles mumbled into their hold.

Alice pulled back and took his face into his hands.

"No, honey. I understand." She sniffed, with a relieved smile on her face.

"You scared me, though." She confessed, trying her hardest not to cry again.

"I don't expect you to forgive me, but can we please talk?" Alice's voice was trembling, but she hoped that he'd be willing to hear her out.

"Yeah we can." Charles gave her a nod.

"Unfortunately I love you too much to hate you." He joked, to lighten the mood for both of them.

"I love you too, sweetie." She softly kissed his cheek.

"But first I want to go home, take a shower and go to bed. I'm exhausted from pulling this all nighter."

There were bags under his eyes, and it was clear that the boy was overwhelmed and tired.

"Sure, honey. I'll be right behind you." Alice let go off him, so he could return home. But before he left the bar, he looked at FP once more.

"Thanks... Mr. Jones." Charles gave him a smile. He wished he could say so much more.

"You're welcome, kid. Don't give your Mom a heart attack next time." FP sweetly patted his shoulder. Charles smiled once more and made his way out, leaving Alice and FP alone.

For one brief second he expected her to ask a thousand questions, to lash out to him, to make sure he'd know that she didn't want to see him around her son anymore but then she did something totally unexpected.

She hugged him.

She held onto him, while she allowed herself to cry.

"Thank you." Alice mumbled.

"It's okay." He promised, hugging her tighter.

Chapter Text

FP stood at the counter in Pop's and smiled politely when the waiter came back with his order. He took the paper bag into his hand while the other fished his wallet out of his back pocket.

"That will be seventeen dollars."

"Here you go." He handed him his credit card, figuring that it would be done in a brief second. However, the loud protest that made its presence known told him that something was off.

"This one is declined, do you have another one?" The waiter asked politely, thinking it was just a case of handing him the wrong card.

"That is impossible, can you try again?" FP urged on, growing confused on why his card wasn't working.

He was loaded, why didn't it work? Ever since his big success he didn't have to worry about money and he wasn't going to start now.

As asked, the waiter tried it again but the exact same sound of rejection was quickly heard by the two men.

"Sorry, it doesn't work." He gave FP and apologetic smile.

"Shit, I don't have any cash on me." FP sighed deeply, afraid that he had to give his order back.

He had a gut feeling what caused this problem, or better said, who caused this problem. He should've known better.

"Don't worry, I've got it covered." A voice called behind him, before standing next to FP at the counter.

It was Charles. He took some bills out of his wallet and was about to hand it over, before FP held him back.

"Woah, kid. Please keep your money. You work very hard for that." He said instantly, feeling guilty that a teenage boy had to pay for his meal just because he was having some trouble.

"Besides, I don't want for your mother to have another reason to be mad at me." FP chuckled slightly.

"I insist." Charles said, now handing it over to the waiter so FP could take his meal.

"Well, is there something I could do for you in return?" He asked, wanting to reward him in any way he could.

"Maybe you have some collectors items from Southside Comics?" Charles said, his eyes twinkling.

"My Mom gave me the one that you handed her, but a few more wouldn't hurt."

FP smiled. He was glad that Alice decided to hand it over to him, because he figured that she had decided against it. Maybe things were starting to change. She was keeping her side of the promise to have a truce.

"I can arrange that. I'll drop 'em off at the Wyrm, okay?" He placed his hand on Charles' shoulder, asking him to confirm.

"Deal."

**

It was late in the afternoon when FP walked into the Wyrm, after having spend most of his day in his hotel room, calling his wife over and over again and ignoring the calls from his editor. It was exhausting, but fortunately he felt welcome enough to go the bar and have a drink, to relief some of the tension in his body. For now, that was all he wanted.

"Hey... what are you doing here?" Alice was restocking the bar as she saw him enter, when she technically was still closed.

"Promised Charles to drop these off. He did something nice for me this morning." He placed the rare Southside Comics on the counter, for her to give to him as soon as he'd come back from school.

"Oh, and here are the seventeen dollars that I owed him." He took a few bills out of his pocket, which he had found in one of his jeans that he had taken with him. It wasn't much, but he could stay around just a little longer with the back-up he had.

"Are you broke all of the sudden?" Alice questioned, wondering why Charles would have to pay for him.

"No, just a wife who blocked basically all of my credit cards." He sighed deeply, as he sat on one of the barstools. As long as she wasn't sending him away, he'd gladly hang around for a little bit.

"Wow, she must really want you to return." Alice momentarily stopped preparing the bar to talk to him, so she could focus on what he had to say.

"She does..." FP averted his gaze, as he tried of a solution to make her cave.

"Maybe you should go." Alice proposed carefully.

It wasn't that she wanted him to leave, not anymore at least, but if he was really in trouble the best way to solve it was to be together and talk it out.

"No, absolutely not. I am not letting her win. This is the way I want to do it." FP said instantly.

If this was a war, he wasn't going to bow his head and walk back to her as if nothing happened. Something had broken for good, and it wasn't up to him to fix it.

"Are things not okay between the two of you?" Alice asked softly, as she always believed that they had the perfect power couple marriage.

"Not really, no." He told her, in all honesty.

"But you love each other, I am sure you can work it out." She tried to comfort him, but it was hard to give encouraging words to your ex-boyfriend that you were holding a secret for, when it came this his current marriage.

"I don't think I've ever loved her, Alice." He said, as he looked straight into her eyes, almost as if he was trying her to tell a story that went beyond these words.

But before Alice could even ask him what he meant, his phone rang. It was Gladys, finally calling him back.

"Speaking of the devil, I've gotta take this. It was nice seeing you." He gave her a warm smile before leaving out of the door, to talk to her in private.

Just as FP left, Charles came walking out of one of the offices upstairs, where he had been doing his homework. He hopped of the stairs and went behind the bar to grab himself a soda.

"Honey, you just missed FP. He dropped you off these Comics." She handed him over the rare pieces, and his eyes immediately started to gleam.

"Oh, great! When did he leave?" He questioned, feeling a little disappointed about not seeing him.

"A minute ago to take a call."

"I'm going to catch up with him to say thank you." He placed the comics back on the counter and took a sip of his drink, before walking towards the exit.

"Sure." Alice smiled. It was great to see him so happy.

However, before he'd run after him she needed to say one thing.

"Charles, before you go... Thank you for not telling him." She had taken his hand in her own and squeezed it.

"I think it should be you. That's not my place." Charles face softened.

Of course he wanted FP to know. Of course he wanted to look him into the eyes and tell him that they were family. But he knew his mom needed some more time. He was frustrated, sad and maybe even a little angry, but he didn't want to upset her and force her to share something she wasn't ready for.

"And I will, honey. I will. I just need some time." She told him, giving the boy a small smile.

"Yeah. I understand. I mean, it sucks, but I do understand."

"Go thank him." She gave him a soft push towards the exit.

**

Outside, there was a little less understanding between the married couple. FP was furious and it was safe to say that Gladys wasn't amused with him either.

"I've called you a hundred times, what the hell is wrong with you?" He yelled through the phone, which was received in New York.

"Annoying, right? When someone ignores you." Gladys said sassily, exhaling loudly enough for him to hear.

"You knew I was working here and yet you felt the need to cut me off? It's my money, you had no right to do that." He told her firmly, the vein in his forehead only expanding.

"Money you made because of me, you'd like to forget that little detail." She shot back instantly.

"Gladys, I swear to God if you don't open my credit cards again..." FP threatened, but he didn't have anything to finish that sentence with.

"Then what, FP?" She snapped, cutting him off before he could have the chance to even say something more.

"Come back to New York and we can talk about it." It was the last thing she said, before FP only heard the beeps that told him that she had hung up.

"Fuck." He hissed through his teeth, feeling in urge to throw his phone on the ground.

"Is everything alright?" Charles had made his way outside and carefully approached the man he had come to know was his father. He looked clearly distressed.

"Charles...." FP turned around, feeling caught of guard that somebody was there, suddenly.

"Honestly, no." He casted his eyes away.

"Gladys, my wife, refuses to open my credit cards again. Without them I can't afford staying here. I have one card she doesn't know about, but that's not nearly enough."

FP wasn't sure why he confessed all this Charles, but so far he was the only soul in Riverdale he somehow felt comfortable talking to.

"I think I need to head back to New York City." It was the only solution left, he felt defeated by his biggest enemy.

Charles' heart began to beat faster. He couldn't tell him why he should stay, but he didn't want him to leave either. It could be the adrenaline rushing through his veins, but a brilliant idea popped into his head.

"But what if I have a place for you to stay?" He brought in carefully.

"I appreciate that, but I can't afford anything for longer than two days." FP said. The effort was sweet, but the only card he had left had barely anything on it.

"No, it's free." Charles cleared up quickly, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

He turned his head around and gestured to the bar behind them.

"The Wyrm?" FP questioned confused.

"There's a bedroom, you can reach it through the fire escape. My mother doesn't need to know." He told him, hoping that the Gods would help him out a little and make him stay.

"Charles, if your mother catches me she'll go insane, rightfully so." FP chuckled a little, finding the whole idea ridiculous.

Charles felt his chances go slimmer, which is why he couldn't do anything but plead desperately.

"Please, stay. I can't tell you why, but I need you to stay here in Riverdale." He said, his eyes shimmering.

FP swallowed. Those eyes looked right into his soul. It was frightening.

"Alright..." He said, a little hesitating.

"I don't know what it is, but you have something very convincing." A warm smile curled on his lips, as he saw that the shoulders of the teenage boy relaxed.

Charles gestured for him to follow him up the fire escape, and then he fished his keys out of his pocket as silently as possible, before opening the squeaky door and leading FP in.

"Be quiet, my Mom is still in the bar." He whisperers as they walked in.

The room was small, dark, one would almost call it vintage. There was only one tiny window way above the head of the bed, that gave a small ray of natural light. Aside from that, it gave a claustrophobic feeling. The bed was small, and according to its state had been there for quite some years. There was a small sink, which was so old fashioned that one could call it vintage. It seemed as if this room hadn't been redecorated or painted since the 80's.

"I know what you think... you're used to your penthouse and now you have to deal with a small room." Charles was suddenly hyper aware of the luxury lifestyle FP usually dealt with, and felt embarrassed that he had to offer this room in such state.

"It's perfect, don't worry." FP gave him a sweet smile. It was more generous than anyone had done for him the last couple of years.

"Our secret, right?" Charles' eyes twinkled.

"Yeah, our secret." FP stuck out his pinky for him to link it with, and so was the very first promise made between father and son.

Chapter Text

Alice had done some administration in the Wyrm that morning, until the alarm on her phone began to ring. It was lunch time. She was going to stop by the mayor's office, as she did usually. She locked the door of the Wyrm behind her and made her way towards the car, to have Pop's as her next stop. Just when she was about to turn on the engine, she saw something move in the rearview mirror.

On the Southside, an expensive suit was easy to spot, and when the face and the stubble came in sight she saw that it was FP walking down her fire escape. He was nervously looking around to see if nobody spotted him, not knowing that Alice had ducked a little in her car, while a sassy smirk tugged on her lips.

He was still in Riverdale. And he was in her bar.

As soon as she arrived at City Hall, Alice walked past Fred's assistent, who barely looked up, as Alice walking in wasn't considered anything special. She knew his schedule (it hangs on her fridge) and chose his lunch break to stop by, so they had some time to talk.

He perked up when he saw his best friend walking in. He put off his glasses and relaxed a little in his chair.

"You're my hero, I was craving Pop's." He grinned, as he noticed the paper take-out bag in her hand.

"How's Charles?" Fred asked, as soon as they had unpacked their lunch.

It hadn't been long ago since he had walked away, and truth to be told he was still worried about him.

"He's... okay. His comics are even more of an escape than they were before. I think he feels closer to FP when he reads them, for as long as he doesn't know." Alice said, before taking a fry into her mouth.

It made her relieved that he had something to hold onto, to give her some time to come to terms with the fact that she was about to uproot FP's life for good.

"Well, that always did it for you too, right?" Fred said, arching his brow.

"Didn't it make you feel closer to him?"

"It did." Alice said, smiling a little.

"He's been staying at the Wyrm." She added, and saw Fred's eyes grow wide.

"You offered him a room?" He asked confused.

"No, I think Charles did. Apparently Gladys has blocked his credits cards. I saw him sneaking out of the bedroom this morning, climbing down the fire escape." Alice cleared up, which made a lot more sense than her offering him a place to stay.

"Can't you just tell him that you know? Might save him from sneaking out very uncomfortably." Fred said.

"It's kind of nice watching him squirm. Just for a few days." Alice smiled wickedly.

She was okay with him using the bedroom in her bar, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy him sneaking around a little longer, trying not to get caught.

"Are you glad he's still here?" Fred asked softly, already knowing the answer.

Alice's face softened as well.

"Yeah, I think I am. Eventually I have to tell him, so maybe it's time to have a real talk." She gave a soft smile. This time, she was ready to get serious, to really open up to FP.

"Look at you all grown up. Who would have thought." Fred grinned.

"Be careful not to choke on your burger, Fred." Alice teased him back, making him laugh out loud.

**

Fred's words had lingered in her mind all day and though the idea of watching him sneak around trying not to get caught sounded amusing, she felt that it was time to show him that she was being genuine, when they had spoken about lowering their guards and putting their weapons down.

Instead of letting him sneak around any longer, she had made her way up the stairs that led to the bedroom and softly opened it with a squeak. FP's eyes immediately shot up when he saw light coming through the door and looked right into her blue, innocent, eyes.

"Alice..." He said, his eyes wide.

"I can explain."

FP opened his mouth to tell her exactly why he was hiding in this old room in the Wyrm without her knowledge, but before he would get too stressed out she stopped his rambling.

"Relax, it's okay." She told him, as she sat down next to him on the bed.

Alice noticed some sketches on his other side, realizing that he had probably been working on his comics before she had come in.

"I knew you were in here." She gave him a soft smile.

"Did Charles tell you?" FP questioned, both a little relieved and confused.

"No, but you just confirmed my thought that he was the one offering you this place." Alice grinned a little brighter.

She knew exactly why Charles did his best to keep him around and though there was still a secret between them, she was glad to see that he tried so hard.

"Sorry, I should have asked you. I'll go grab my stuff." FP gave her an apologetic smile and wanted to get up and gather his belongings, until he felt her hand holding him back.

"You can stay here, if you want." She told him, her voice soft.

"It's not really fancy though, still trouble with your wife?" Alice was a little scared to ask, partly because she didn't want to overstep, but mostly because hearing about Gladys wasn't something she really liked.

"Something like that, yeah..." FP sighed, as he gazed down to the floor.

"I'd still rather be in an old office turned into a bedroom than be in a big house with her, trust me." There curled a small smile on his lips.

"That's really sad, FP." Alice chuckled a little, and suddenly it reminded him of how Charles had laughed.

"Why do you have a bedroom here anyway?" FP questioned, wondering why anyone would need that in a biker gang bar.

"I made it when Charles was a kid. Whenever I had to work late he could sleep upstairs. After he was old enough to sleep alone at home I decided to keep it for whenever someone needed a place to crash." She answered.

"Like me." He smiled.

"Usually a Serpent, not a rich spoiled guy who has trouble with his wife, but yes." Alice grinned, making him laugh out loud. It was nice to see that he could still smile, she thought.

"And you are sure you're okay with me staying here?" He wondered, hoping that things had cooled off between them just enough for her to be okay with him staying in Riverdale.

"Yes. I am glad you're here." She told him, as she for the very first time could feel how grateful she was that he was still around.

"It's not really the Five Seasons though." She said, almost feeling guilty that this was the place he had to stay.

"Are you kidding me? I've got my own sink. Fancy enough." He grinned. It wasn't much, but he was eternally grateful.

"It's nice talking to you again." FP said softly, hoping that she felt the same.

"And I mean really talking... not biting each other's heads off." He chuckled just a little.

"I feel the same." She told him, her eyes shimmering softly.

"We have a lot of memories in this bar. Are our initials still carved into the side of the pooltable?" FP let his mind wander to all their memories as teenagers, and since the Wyrm had barely changed he wondered if that had stayed the same too.

"Absolutely. Wouldn't get rid of it." She told him, smiling sweetly.

"And remember all the times we sneaked behind the bar to steal tequila? Hog Eye was so pissed." Alice recalled, laughing a little.

"He was at first, but that smile of yours fixed everything. Always did." FP said softly, as his eyes flickered from her eyes to her lips.

"Not everything..." Alice swallowed, as her eyes welled up with tears. She wished it was true. She wished her smile could fix sixteen years of mistakes between them.

"Do you ever wish you would have done things differently? Made different choices?" FP asked her, his heart racing in his chest.

"You have no idea." She whispered, giving him a sad smile.

Alice wished she could get the secret over her lips, but he looked too innocent. She would never forgive herself what what she had done, and so she pursed her lips instead of finally telling him about their son.

"I've missed you." She confessed, her voice soft and fragile.

Weeks ago, she couldn't even imagine saying those words out loud to him, but now they were sitting next to each other on an old twin size bed in a bedroom that only had one tiny window and she told him something that she had been feeling for sixteen years. She had missed him every single day.

"I missed you too, Alice. I missed you a lot." He whispered, wondering what would happen if he would kiss her now.

And while Alice wanted nothing more than to kiss him too, she knew that she couldn't, not as long as he didn't know the truth. So, instead of leaning in and kissing him like her heart told her too, she stopped herself. It wasn't fair, and it should be.

"I'm gonna go... it's getting late." She said, breaking the magic spell.

"Yeah, sure." FP said, giving her a small smile.

His heart sank, as he could see that she wanted this as much as he wanted. Something was holding her back, and he couldn't figure out what it was.

"Goodnight, FP." She pecked a quick kiss on his cheek, before getting up and leaving out of the door.

**

Back in the Smith apartment, Fred and Charles were watching a movie together, spending some quality time. However, Charles couldn't focus on the movie. Ever since he knew about his father, he hadn't been able to focus on anything else. It was all that was on his mind.

"Fred?" Charles asked, to get his attention.

"Yes kiddo?" Fred's hands stopped midway, before he could reach their Popcorn bowl. Instead, he focused on the teenager.

"Could you tell me more about FP?" His voice was soft and insecure, but he knew that he could ask Fred anything. As long as he couldn't ask FP himself, he needed to reach out.

"Obviously it's painful for Mom to talk about... I don't want to put any more on her plate than she already has." He cleared up, explaining why he couldn't, or didn't want to, ask Alice. Even after everything, he felt like protecting her.

"Of course I could tell you more about FP. He was my best friend." Fred perked up and smiled a little. The memories he had with his friend were one of the best of his life.

"We were both Bulldogs, star players of the team. One time, he single handedly won the game against the Baxter Ravens. It was a victory like Riverdale High had never seen before." Fred recalled the fond memory of his best friend, and brother back then, when they had won the championship because of him.

"But even back then he was always drawing. It's no wonder he's become successful." He said with a sweet smile.

When he wasn't playing football, he was drawing. He could disappear in his own little bubble because of it, which had always been a beautiful sight.

"He might even still have the portraits he made of your Mom, when they were seventeen. You should ask him, once the time is there."

"And his personality? What was he like?" Charles wondered, his lips absentmindedly curling into a smile.

"He was the tough guy with a hard exterior but very vulnerable soul. Just like your mother. I think it sometimes made it hard for them to be honest about what they truly felt." Fred said.

"Do you think my parents loved each other?" Charles had to ask, no matter if the answer was going to hurt.

"No doubt in my mind, Charles." Fred assured him.

Chapter Text

It was a busy night in the Wyrm when FP came back after having a quick bite at Pop's. After all these years it still was the best fast food he had ever tasted. He hadn't realized how much he had missed it until he had his first burger there after sixteen years. It tasted like home.

Another place that felt like home as well was the bar he had just walked into. It was good to see that it was still loved as much as they did back then. People were dancing, playing darts or pool or simply just chatting away in a booth.

FP however, sat down at the bar, where Alice was serving customers. She smiled when she saw that he had come in. He didn't really blend it with his dress shirt and expensive tailored pants, but for some reason it was amusing to her. As if he was on his way to his old self, but his fashion was just a little behind schedule.

"Hey, is it okay if I get a drink? If you would like me to go, just say the word." He said, not wanting to overstep after they had gotten so close the night before.

"Oh, you're suddenly going to listen to me? That's new." Alice said sarcastically, with a grin on her face to show him that she was teasing.

"You're right, I am staying anyway. It's your own fault, you know you make great cocktails." He told her, grinning too. She had made him one after the attempted robbery and ever since he had been obsessed.

"Do you want the little parasol?" Alice quirked her eyebrow.

"I can see in your eyes that you're trying to shame me. But yeah, gimme one." FP smirked.

While she made his drink, FP's phone went off time after time. She eyed him, trying to see why he was purposely ignoring it, but he wasn't picking up on the question in her eyes.

"Your phone rang ten times already. Shouldn't you pick up?" She asked him, wondering who he could be ignoring when it seemed important.

"It's either my wife or my publisher, and I don't want to talk to either of them." FP said plainly, before taking a long chug from his drink.

"FP, what is going on?" Alice asked him, this time more straight forward.

He looked at her and saw genuine concern in her eyes, which is why he realized it was time to be completely honest with her about why he was in Riverdale and why he can't finish his work. She deserved to know that, he believed.

"I told you that I didn't know how to finish my story, right?" He asked, which was followed by a confirming nod from Alice.

"Well, they're pushing me to give them the ending. It has been a long time since I've given them anything and they are getting anxious. There are high expectations and I just... can't live up to that." He summed up, with a defeated expression on his face.

"You have been a success, why is this last one so hard for you?" She wondered.

"Because it's not just a fictional story, it is..." FP was about to finish his sentence, when Fred came walking their way.

"Hey, FP! You're here again!" He chirped happily, before sitting down next to his former friend.

"Never thought I'd see you in the Wyrm, Fred." FP smiled. It wasn't really usual for Norhtsiders to come to a Southside bar.

"When your best friend is Serpent Queen, you don't have much of a choice. It's a good way to bond with the Southside too. Since Riverdale has a Northside mayor, they are rightfully critical of all decisions that I make." He explained, giving him a small smile.

"You're doing a great job, Fred. Don't be so modest all the time." Alice told him, smirking a little. He had been the best mayor the town ever had, and yet Fred had still trouble giving himself credit for that.

"You always wanted to become mayor. It's great seeing that your dream came true." FP told him, genuinely impressed by what he had done.

"Yours did too. You're a hit. That is something to be proud of." Fred returned the compliment with a kind smile.

FP couldn't smile back. He knew how it looked. He had success, he wouldn't deny that. He was rich, which was definitely a privilege he knew he was fortunate enough to have. However, things were more complicated than what everybody saw on the surface.

"Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?" Fred asked worriedly, when he saw FP's face fall.

"Things are not always what they seem, Fred. I know that now more than anything." FP said sadly, afraid to look at either Alice or Fred.

She tried to catch his eyes, but he couldn't look back at her, afraid that he would cry. So, instead of pushing him she decided to cheer him up another way.

"Come, we're gonna dance." Alice walked from behind the counter and took his hand into her own, to drag him from the barstool onto the dancefloor.

"Alice, I was always a bad dancer. You want to embarrass me." FP smirked a little, while he was trying to resist.

"No excuses, Jones." She said playfully, giving his hand one more tug to get him to follow her. He did, with his head shaking in amusement.

**

It was around one in the morning when the bar was empty, not because people were done partying but because it was a weekday, and most of them needed to get up early next morning. Aside from the early ending, people had enjoyed themselves. The mess in the bar perfectly mirrored that, as it was filled with confetti that Alice had no idea where it came from and empty beer bottles.

Alice was about to start cleaning, until she saw in the corner in her eyes that Fred and FP naturally decided to help her out.

"You don't have to help clean up. Neither of you. Go home, get some sleep." She told them, smiling at the two men.

"Not happening. Give me that broom." FP extended his hand, waiting for her to tell what needed to be done.

"FP, don't feel obligated to stay." She said, thinking that he only did it because he stayed in the Wyrm.

"Are you kidding me? Cleaning is my thing, didn't you know?" He said, grinning at her as he began to sweep the floor.

"You're giving me a place to stay, this is the least I can do." He added sweetly, as he saw the hesitation in her eyes.

His night here has definitely brought some memories back. This place represented so much more than his teenage years, it was the physical place of his happiness.

"It has been sixteen years and still it feels like yesterday... being here, with the Serpents, dancing, playing darts or a round of pool... it's freeing." FP looked around the bar and smiled to himself.

All these years he had been wondering where he really belonged, what his home was and now he had realized it was here, in Riverdale.

"Almost forgot what it felt like to be home." He smiled softly, as he looked at Alice and Fred.

"Well, most things stayed the same. Including you sucking at darts." Alice teased, grinning up at him.

"You just had a lucky night." FP smirked.

While they continued cleaning, the door swung open and Alice immediately reflex was to tell them that the party was over.

"Sorry, we're closed." She told, barely looking up.

"I don't think you'd mind me stopping by, huh?" A voice called, making shivers go over her spine.

It was Hal.

"You missed our appointment this morning." He told her, stepping closer into the bar.

Alice stopped cleaning and her eyes grew wide. How stupid could she be? Her mind had been all over the place, that she hadn't even thought about it.

"Shit." She mumbled through her teeth.

"I need one more day, please." Alice walked over to him and looked into his eyes with a desperate look on her face.

"No exceptions, Alice." He said sternly, giving her an icy look.

"What is going on here?" Fred was the first on to interrupt. Something about this felt off and he wanted to know what it was.

"Nothing, just owed him some money from scratching his car." Alice said quickly, praying for Fred just to stay out of it.

"Harold, I am sure you can fix this as adults. How much is it? Maybe I can help out?" He offered, as it was simply in his nature to be a peace maker.

"No, Andrews. I want it from Alice." Hal said coldly, his eyes not leaving her.

Without a second thought, he took her wrist roughly into his hand, wanting to hurt her just enough to make sure she knew he wasn't screwing around. He wanted his money, and if not, she knew very well what would happen. FP saw her flinch just slightly, as if she was trying to mask the fact that she was afraid of him. However, it was enough for him to do something.

He pushed Hal aside, by roughly throwing him against the wall. Hal was caught off guard a little and didn't have time to react as FP came awfully close to his face.

"Keep your hands to yourself. Don't you see that she's uncomfortable?!" He said, his eyes spitting fire.

It took Hal a second to realize who the man was in front of him, but no beard or different haircut could conceal who he was. This was his moment. The guy that was trying to intimidate him was the one that had had fled Riverdale years ago and had no idea what had happened here.

Fortunately for Hal, he knew perfectly well what Alice had been hiding from him all these years. She had been stupid enough to tell him in a moment of pure weakness.

"FP Jones? Who would have thought. Are you here for your bastard baby?" Hal grinned mischievously, hoping to strike a nerve. He was waiting for the pin to drop.

FP's heart began faster, as Hal's words echoed through his mind. Fred and Alice might be friends now, but they had still betrayed him, hadn't they? Wasn't Fred the father of her child? All the things Alice had told him the past few weeks came back to him, and he felt like he was going to faint.

"What are you..." FP drifted off confused, as he took a step away from him.

"Oh, she didn't tell you? Can't say I am surprised." Hal let out a laughing scoff.

FP's breathing pattern quickened, as he turned around to the one person he needed answers from. He needed to hear it from her, to know for sure that Charles was his son.

"Alice?" His voice cracked as he looked right at her with tears in his eyes, afraid for the truth.

"FP, please..." Alice was on the verge of crying, and she could barely get out his name.

"Hal, go. Now!" Fred pushed him out as his rage took over and shoved him right out of the bar. This hadn't been his place to tell, he had no right to take that away from her.

"Is this really..." FP's voice cracked, his gaze fixated on Alice. He could read the answer all over her face, but he needed to hear it with his own ears.

Alice took a breath, before saying the words she should have told him sixteen years ago.

"Yeah.... He's yours. Charles is your son." She told him, her voice fragile and broken.

FP's tears fell, as suddenly every puzzle piece fell together, creating the imagine that had been wandering through his mind but just didn't make any sense. Suddenly, they did. It was Charles. That weird connection he felt to him, the reason why Alice wanted him gone so badly, while he thought he was Fred's son. It all didn't make sense, because Charles was his. He was the missing piece.

He turned around, needing air, needing space. He was afraid he was going to faint, he was scared he was going to wake up and lose it all again.

"FP, please don't walk away." Alice called after him, crying.

"You are in no position to demand anything from me." He snapped his head back at her, and shook his head.

For years he had believed she had betrayed him with his best friend, but it turned out that the betrayal he was so mad about was even worse. How could he ever forgive her for that?

Chapter Text

"FP, wait!" Fred ran after him, trying his hardest to catch up with his friend.

He knew he needed to try and calm things down, for both their sakes. An impossible task, he believed.

FP wasn't willing to listen. His rage, his sadness and his confusion, were creating a massive blindspot for him, that he couldn't get rid of even if he tried. Something had fundamentally changed. His whole life was being shown in a new light. He had been kept in the dark for sixteen years, while he could have all that he had wished for. How was he supposed to deal with that?

"She kept my son from me, Fred. There is no excuse for that. My own child and I missed sixteen years because she thought it wasn't worth telling me." FP turned around on his heel and dangerously pointed his finger at Fred, his nostrils flaring because of his anger.

"You have no right to judge her, FP! You don't know what her life has been like!" Fred shot back, getting angry with him now too.

"Well, you should know, huh? You two have always been quite cosy." FP scoffed, his eyes again welling up in tears.

"What are you talking about?" Fred said confused, his voice laced with annoyance.

"That thing you had behind my back!" FP yelled back, finding it insulting that Fred pretended not to know what he was talking about.

While FP had found out they weren't together now, he had never once doubted that back as teenager they had hooked-up right in front of his nose and secretly laughed because they believed he was too stupid to notice.

"Me and Alice? Are you insane? She's always been like a sister to me. Nothing ever happened between us and if you think there did, then you are blind, FP. Blind to see that the only one she was in love with was you." Fred told him, looking straight into his eyes so he could make sure that FP knew he was telling the truth.

His face softened, and suddenly it felt as if the world stopped turning. Those very words changed everything.

"She was in love with me?" FP asked quietly, afraid he had misunderstood.

Fred's face softened now too, as he realized that this was the first time he got told that the person he loved, loved him back.

"She was. You have no idea." Fred said softly, giving him a small smile.

FP exhaled deeply, while shaking his head in confusion. If he had known back then, everything would've been different. He would've stayed in Riverdale.

"It's why I left, with Gladys. I couldn't bear the thought of you two..." FP couldn't even finish his sentence.

Thinking about that time in his life made his stomach twist, and now it was even more upsetting because he knew it was all in his head. He had left everything behind based on a lie someone had whispered in his ear.

"When I saw Charles for the first time I thought he was your kid." He confessed, his cheeks turning red.

"Believe it or not, that wonderful boy is all yours." Fred said, a sweet smile on his face.

He wondered how he hadn't seen it before. Charles and FP looked so much alike, that even a stranger could see that they were related.

"I know you, FP. You don't want to leave. Please, don't run out on them. I understand that you are mad, but hear each other out." Fred placed his hand on FP's shoulder, as he slowly approached him.

"You're right. I don't want to leave my son, or Alice." FP said quietly, casting his eyes away.

"Can you... can you please check on her? I can't." His voice broke, but no matter how hard he wished he could hold her right now, he just wasn't ready.

"Yes. I'll be right back. You can stay with me for tonight, alright?" Fred proposed, thinking that some space would do him good. FP nodded gratefully, as he wiped away a few tears from his cheeks.

Fred turned back to the Wyrm, where it was awfully silent except for the little cries of Alice, who had slid down against the wall with her knees to her chest.

"Alice?" Fred asked, before spotting her in the corner.

"Hey, sssh. It's all going to be fine, I promise you." He sat down next to her onto the floor and embraced her tightly. His arms always felt safe to her, as if anything would be okay if he was there.

"I've ruined everything, Fred. I was supposed to tell him but I didn't and now—" Alice rambled through sobs, her breath hitching.

"He's never going to forgive me." She said, as she kept on crying.

"He will. I am going to make sure of that. Okay? Go home, take a bath, watch some TV and go to bed early. I'm going to talk to FP." Fred assured her, before pressing a kiss on her hairline.

"It's too late." Alice said quietly, her lips quivering.

"Do you trust me?" Fred asked softly, making her look up to his eyes.

And the truth was, she did trust Fred, but she wondered if even he could fix something like this. She was scared she had broken the fragile line between them for good.

**

It was silent in Fred's house. The light shimmered, and the only sound that was being made was Fred making a sandwich in the kitchen. He walked over to the living room, where FP had sat down onto the couch with his head in his hands.

"Do you want something to eat?" It was a rethorical question, because when FP looked up, he accepted the plate with food Fred had made for him.

However, he couldn't eat anything. He was too upset for that.

"A son... I have a sixteen year old son." FP mumbled to himself, as if saying it out loud would help him feel differently.

"Did you know?" He looked at Fred.

"Yeah..." Fred answered a little hesitatingly, feeling the guilt he had for years coming to the surface. He knew it wasn't fair, but he had made a promise to Alice.

"Did she think I was going to be an awful father?" FP asked, his voice insecure.

That had to be the reason, right? His father was horrible, so he would be a horrible dad as well. It made sense. Maybe he could even understand why Alice had never said anything about Charles. It was to protect him.

"She would have wanted to raise Charles with you, that I know." Fred said softly. If someone had faith in FP, it had always been Alice.

"Then why didn't we? I missed out on sixteen years." FP said emotionally.

Fred took a deep breath, before revealing the real truth of their senior year in high school. It might not be his place, but he felt like FP deserved to know what she had really felt above anything.

"You said you thought we had something but the truth was... she saw big potential in you, FP. She believed that you would be a successful artist. So, when she got pregnant, she confided in me. That's why we became so inseparable, because she didn't want for you to be stuck in this town when she believed you were meant for the world outside of Riverdale. She needed a friend. I was that friend."

Fred had always thought that FP knew this, but it had become painfully clear that all this time, he thought they had betrayed him. If they had all been a little better at communicating, maybe things would've been different.

"When she was finally sure that she was ready to tell you, she heard that you had taken off to be in New York. It seemed like a sign from the universe that it was selfish to tell you."

Fred recalled this moment all too well. Once Alice knew she needed him, that her baby needed his father, he had vanished. Gone, forever. Left off for a better life, away from her.

"I would have stayed in a heartbeat, Fred. I would have done anything for her." FP said quietly.

"Maybe that is what she was so afraid of." Fred answered, sharing once more how real the love Alice had for him had been.

"I know it doesn't excuse anything, FP... but she was seventeen years old. She was scared, and she wanted to protect you from a life she believed you didn't want. Nothing she ever did was to hurt you, I promise you that."

FP nodded. She was young, she was insecure and lonely. He didn't make sure that she knew that he loved her, and that's why their ships passed for sixteen years. He knew he was too blame, too. Without his assumptions, without his own blind spots, he could've been there through it all.

"If I had talked to her... if I hadn't assumed anything about the two of you, maybe we would have had a life together. I could have seen my son's first steps, hear his first words, and see her eyes light up whenever she looks at him. We could have had it all."

FP tried to realize what all of it meant, how the awful memories of the past decade could have been filled with something beautiful.

"I was so heartbroken when I saw you together. I needed to be out of town, to heal, to forget. I was so madly in love with her, Fred. I am afraid it's that same feeling what brought me back here."

FP swallowed. It was the first time he had said it out loud ever since he had returned. Sure, telling Hermione that he still loved her while being miles apart was simple. But now, he had a son with her, and she was so close, and yet still so far away.

"Hey, it's not too late. Not all is lost, not if you don't want it to be." Fred encouraged him, knowing that their story wasn't over. FP nodded. Maybe it wasn't all lost.

"Thank you for letting me stay here." He said, genuinely grateful.

Fred was a true friend, which he realized even more than ever. He didn't even blame him for expecting the worst of him for all these years.

"I don't care how many sticks you have up your butt, you're still my brother." Fred smiled. FP chuckled. Even after such a long time, Fred still believed in the good of him.

"Do you know what that was between her and Hal?" FP suddenly remembered what Hal had said before the big revelation, and something about it felt off.

"That had to be more than a car scratch, right?"

"You may have been gone for sixteen years, but if one thing hasn't changed it's Hal Cooper. Still the same old snake." Fred shook his head.

"We've got to keep our eye on him." He added. FP nodded in agreement.

His phone went off, which in the otherwise silent room sounded extremely loud.

"Is your wife calling again?" Fred questioned, knowing that things between them had been cold and problematic.

"No, it's Hermione." He said, looking at the caller ID.

"Oh, you guys still talk?" He wondered, trying to play it off as a casual question, while his heart beat faster.

"Yeah, she is my best friend." FP smiled, as she could see the hopeful look in his eyes.

"Remember your own words, Fred. Not all is lost if you don't want it to be." He said knowingly.

**
Charles' eyes grew wide when he saw Alice returning home, her eyes blood red from crying.

"Mom, are you okay?" He ran towards her and tried to catch her eyes.

"No, honey. I am not." She said with a raspy voice.

Alice sat down onto the couch, followed by Charles who pulled an arm around her. He wasn't even aware of what was wrong, but even if she couldn't tell him he'd just hold her all night.

"Your father knows. He found out in the most awful way..." She told him, her shoulders still shocking a little. Alice held onto her son, afraid he might slip through her fingers if she made one more mistake.

"What happened?" He asked her, wanting to know every little detail. His priority wasn't asking about his father now, first he needed to make sure she was okay.

Alice wasn't ready. She wished she could tell it all, but it was too much. Instead, she just started crying again, having no control whatsoever.

Charles knew that this wasn't the time and place to ask questions, so he got up to make her a cup of tea, knowing that it could be comforting. When he handed it back to her, she sniffed.

"Is he mad?" Charles dared to ask, his voice soft.

"I have no idea how he feels. He's with Fred for now." Alice answered, which was the most truthful response she could give.

"So, he hasn't left?" He asked hopeful. Alice shook her head.

His heart broke seeing her like this, and yet he was thinking about his father finally knew about him. He felt hopeful and sad at the same time, which was an odd mixture of feelings for the teenage boy.

"You've always got me, Mom." He pulled her close as he could. One thing was for sure, he'd never leave her.

"I know sweetie. I love you." Alice smiled again and wiped a few tears. He was her most precious treasure.

"This is the ring he gave me when we were young." She played with the one on her necklace.

"That one is from FP?" Charles wondered, finally knowing the real meaning behind the one piece of jewelry he couldn't imagine her without.

"You wear it every day, I don't know better than you always having it on you." He smiled a little.

"Somehow it felt like he was here, if I wore a piece of him with me." Alice looked at her son, while her finger still played with the ring on the necklace.

"I might have ruined everything." She said quietly, hoping that he could forgive her for the mess she had made.

"It will be fine, Mom." Charles promised, somehow feeling that in his heart.

"I should be the one to comfort you, honey. Not the other way around." Alice chuckled through her tears and stroked his hair back.

"A son can be there for his mother too, can he?" Charles smiled sweetly. She had been there for him for sixteen years, he could he there for her now.

"You're way wiser than anyone should be at your age, honey." Alice smiled sadly. She knew why he was so wise, and while it made her proud, she wished he could have had a bit of innocence left.

Chapter Text

FP hadn't closed an eye while staying over at Fred's. He was taking good care of him, but it couldn't stop the storm in his mind. He was mad, confused, disappointed but surprisingly most of all forgiving.

They may have spend sixteen years apart, but he still liked to believe that he still knew who Alice was. When he had told Charles that he believed that Alice would never hurt anyone on purpose, he had meant it. His own words made him second guess his urge to leave out of town to never return, and first hear her out instead. It was the least they owed one another.

He wasn't sure how this was going to work out, and if this even was something they could get over, but he wanted to try for himself, for Alice and for Charles.

With a slightly trembling hand, he made his way into the Wyrm, thanking the Gods that it was open. He expected for it to be crowded, but there was just one person. In the back, Alice was playing on the piano that had been there for years for when they had open mic nights.

He smiled a little when he saw her playing, totally absorbed in her own safe bubble with nothing but her own music around her. He remembered how she used to play when they were younger and he was glad to see she hadn't given up on it.

It wasn't until he stepped further into the bar that she noticed him, her fingers freezing immediately. He could see her swallow, as if she was trying to brace her for the fight that was about to come. But he wasn't going to yell.

"Hey, can we... talk?" He asked, once he stood next to her.

Alice nodded and scooted over a little, so he could sit next to her.

"I'm sorry you couldn't tell me." FP said quietly, looking up to meet her eyes.

Her face softened. It had only been a few days, and yet here he was, looking at her peacefully and apologized for something he hadn't done.

"FP, you have nothing to be sorry for. I kept this secret from you for so long, I should be the one to apologize until my last breath." She said, her eyes filling with tears.

Maybe she wished he would yell at her, somehow seeing the painful look in his eyes made this worse.

"Fred told me what happened." FP explained, realizing that he needed to explain why he wasn't mad at her.

"You believed in me. You really believed that I could make my dreams come true." His voice cracked as he spoke, and for the first time Alice realized that maybe he had never believed in himself.

"Of course I did." She said lovingly, remembering the talent that he had and the insecurities that came with it.

"Alice, you were the first one to think of me as anything more than a very unfortunate boy from the wrong side of the tracks. I can't believe that it's your faith in me that eventually drove us to go our own way."

"If I had made clear that I loved you, and that I would never have chosen New York or my career above us, and our family, maybe we wouldn't be sitting here right now."

Their eyes linked in a long gaze, both of them knowing that they could try and blame everything on each other, that they could choose to be mad, to resent each other forever, or that they could see that it was their strong connection that had made it impossible for them to be who they were meant to be.

"I saw your dream blossoming, FP. How could I have ruined that for you?" Alice asked quietly.

"You were my dream, Alice. More than anything." He said, softly.

"It's my fault you didn't know that." FP looked down at the floor, afraid to see the hurt shimmering in her eyes.

"I should have told you no matter what. You had the right to know. I've thought about it every single day for the past sixteen years." Alice told him, feeling even more guilty than she had felt yesterday.

"I've thought about you, too." He said.

That wasn't all there was to it. He hadn't only thought about her, he had created a world with his memories of her. She was the reason he was successful, she was the reason his work got praised. It was time for her to know that. He didn't want to keep that secret any longer, it was time for complete transparency.

"These Comics that I write... those aren't just stories, Alice. It's us. It's not my story, it's our story..." He said, feeling a weight being lifted off his shoulders.

"Everything I've created so far were our memories. Every day of my life I thought about the times that made me feel real happiness. It was always you." There curled a sweet smile on his lips, one he tried to fight. But it was her. He couldn't help but to smile at her.

"That's the secret I kept. I wanted to write you and show you that this was our success. But I never dared to." He said, his eyes twinkling innocently.

Alice smiled sweetly. Hearing it from him was more than she could ever wished for.

"I know it's about us. I've always known." She told him softly.

"You knew?" He questioned, his brows raising in wonder.

"I've read every single thing you've created, FP. Every single drawing, every single word. I know that was us." She told him, while his eyes shimmered with hope.

"I think it's the only thing that made me feel like you were still here with me and Charles. He always had a piece of his father."

"And I always had a piece of us."

Carefully, she reached with her fingers for his hand to intertwine their hands. He let it happen, and watched as for the first time he could feel her touch again. Nothing had changed, and at the same time everything had.

**

Alice had thought all day about what to do now, what steps to take and how to make sure that FP felt at home here. She had turned his life upside down and she could understand if he needed time, but this time they needed to take these steps together so Charles could have his father, and FP could have his son. She owed them that.

She walked up the stairs to reach the bedroom in the Wyrm and knocked quickly, before making her way inside.

"FP, I was wondering..." She stopped mid-sentence, when she noticed FP's suitcase laying on his bed, while he was stuffing everything in a rush.

"Where are you going?" She asked him, innocently.

"I can't do this Alice. I need to go." He said, barely looking at her as he tried to get everything he had taken with him back into his suitcase, but in his state of panic, he couldn't get it to close.

"You're leaving?" Alice questioned confused, not sure where his sudden change in behavior was coming from.

"You never wanted me here anyway, and I think you were right." He said, this time looking up at her. It wasn't even something he held against her, he really believed that he couldn't carry this responsibility.

"You're panicking." Alice said, calmly. She had noticed the way his eyes darted around, and how he let out short shallow breaths.

"Of course I am panicking!" FP exclaimed, going with his hands through his hair to absentmindedly tug on it, just enough for it to hurt.

"I am terrified, Alice. I've never been a father and suddenly I have a teenage son. How am I supposed to handle that? How can I possibly not freak out?" He asked her worriedly, his eyes filled with tears.

"Having a teenage son is terrifying, FP. It is for me, every single day." She took his arms into her tiny hands and made him look right at her. She believed that as long as she could get him to meet her eyes, that everything would be fine.

"It's filled with worries, anxiety, but most importantly with a love stronger than anything." She said emotionally. FP averted his gaze.

"I don't know how to do this. All I've ever wanted was to have kids, to have a family I could take care of. But now I suddenly have that and I don't know what to do." He said, his voice cracking noticeably.

"FP, we can do this in a pace you are okay with. This is new for all three of us, but we can make this work." She told him, still remaining calm. It was her turn to be there for him, to keep fighting to keep him with her.

"Do you really want me here, Alice? Do you want me to be a father to or son, even if I screw up?" He asked her, emotionally and insecure.

"I do, FP. I know our past doesn't show it, but I've always believed you would be an amazing dad. You're not going to ruin anything." She whispered softly, giving him a warm genuine smile.

"Everything is changing. I'm scared, Alice. I don't think I've ever been this scared." He confessed, feeling more vulnerable than ever.

"Hey, look at me." She took his face into her tiny hands, and their eyes locked into a connection of trust.

"It's going to be fine." She told him, before leaning in to let her nose brush against his.

FP's breath hitched, while his hands reached for her waist, an urge to have her close taking over him. He could feel her face coming closer, until her lips brushed against his in a featherlight kiss. He pulled back a little to look at her, almost as if he was asking her if she wanted this too, without words. When he didn't see any hesitation and only a spark of hope in her blue orbs, he kissed her deeply, pulling her impossibly close.

Her lips still felt the same against his own. Sixteen years apart, and kissing her was still as magical and mind-blowing as it ever was. But with so many years apart, kissing her wasn't enough to let the buried passion run free, and so Alice's hands reached for the buttons of his dress shirt and slowly freed his chest while his lips kept on chasing hers.

When he shrugged it off his shoulders, she took her own shirt off, leaving her in a black bra that immediately took his attention. FP pulled her close again, only wanting a moment to look at her, before they would cross a line that they couldn't step away from.

"It's been so long." He said a little out of breath, while smiling a little.

"Do you want this, Alice?" He asked her, giving her one more chance to tell him that maybe he was going too far. His fingers traced right under the line of her bra, wanting nothing more than to take it off.

"I've been thinking about this ever since you came back." She said lovingly, before kissing him again.

Her hands lid over his bare torso, and FP couldn't wait anymore. He wanted to feel her hands, her lips, her touch, all night and he was going to show her exactly how much he had missed her all these years. Smoothly, he grabbed her thighs, which she wrapped around his waist.

The years of hurt and secrets seemed to fade away for a little while, at least for as long as they would look at each other with so much lust yet so much tenderness.

She was a beautiful vision in his arms. Her blonde curls were messy and her were red from kissing him and it was enough for him to realize that even after all these years, even after all the hurt, he still loved her with all his heart.

Chapter Text

After a long night of intense kisses and sharing intimate touches that meant more than  any of them could describe into words. Things still weren't alright, and all the things that they had to talk about were still hanging like a cloud above their heads. But for now, all was well for a little while.

FP laid on his stomach, his head buried into one of the pillows, as he looked up, opening one eye to face the woman who was running her hair though his dark locks.

She was sitting straight up with her head against the wall, and though the only daylight that was shining into the old bedroom was through the tiny window above the bed, she looked like an angel, dressed in his clothes from last night before she took them off.

"You look so much better in dress shirts than I do." FP said groggily, as he pushed himself up to sit against the headboard.

"Hmm, maybe I'll keep this one." Alice hummed happily, before leaning in to kiss him.

"It has been so long since I woke up next to you." FP looked at her intensely, as if he was also trying to tell her that it had been his dream for an eternity.

Sleeping next to one another in an old, small twin size bed seemed anything but comfortable, but it had been one of the best night's sleep he had in years.

"You said things were changing... maybe they are changing for the better." Alice said quietly, her hand still playing with his hair.

"I hope so." He said, smiling a little.

"Hey... do you think the three of us could do something together anytime soon? Does Charles want that?" FP didn't want to overwhelm her, but now he knew that he had a son, he couldn't pretend that he didn't exist, nor did he want to.

"Does he even know?" He questioned, suddenly insecure about having to keep this a secret.

"He does. I've told him a little while ago. That's why he walked away." She told him, feeling embarrassed about that particular night.

"So, when I found him... he knew?" FP recalled his memory, and replayed his talk with the boy in his head.

"He did everything to keep you in Riverdale." Alice said softly.

"And I will too." She promised.

"I don't think I'll be going anywhere." FP smiled, before kissing her again.

Neither of them knew if last night had been a moment of weakness, or if it were two people reacting on feelings that had been there for years, but for the time being it didn't matter.

Just as Alice was about to push him back into the old mattress, his phone rang again. FP reached for it and sighed deeply, letting it ring until it stopped, refusing to pick up.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked him, reading the worry on his face.

"Gladys... I have ten missed calls from her." FP said, tossing his phone aside again.

He stood up from the bed and took his pants and a fresh shirt out of his suitcase, giving himself a distraction instead of letting his thoughts run free.

"Then shouldn't you call your wife back? She's probably worried." Alice said, trying to look for his eyes.

"Worried? Yeah sure. All she wants is for me to send a draft of the ending." FP scoffed, as he buttoned up his shirt.

He caught her eyes for a brief second and saw an odd mix of confusion, worry and insecurity, which made him realize that if he wanted her to understand, he needed to open up a little more than he was used to.

"I know what you think. We're rich, successful... we have it all. But the truth is, we aren't as far as perfect as we seem to be." He said, his eyes twinkling sadly.

"Don't you have a happy marriage?" She wondered, her heart racing surprisingly fast.

He sat down on the bed next to her and placed his hand on her bare thigh. Her skin was still warm.

"I'm here with you in an old office that has been turned into a bedroom, in the back of a biker gang bar. You tell me." The corner in his mouth curled a little, and she had to laugh a little too.

"She manages every aspect of my life, Alice. Our relationship is nothing but marketing to her." His face turned serious again, and his hand fell of her legs. She could sense that there was more, so she placed her hand on his leg for support.

"She doesn't even want to have my kids... but sex? That's a different story." He said, gazing down at the floor to having a spot to focus on and ground himself.

"What do you mean?" She wondered, trying to look at him.

"Like I said... she can be controlling. It doesn't matter how many times I tell her no." He answered her burning gaze on him and looked at her.

"FP, do you know what that means?" Alice asked, as she saw the innocent, but sad, twinkle in his eyes.

"Did she ever do something against your will?"

The look in his eyes suddenly changed, as if her question switched something in his brain.

"...Yeah, I guess she did. But it doesn't matter." He said.

"It does matter, FP." Alice said firmly, her own eyes glossing over with tears as she understood perfectly well what it meant.

"Yeah, well... a man isn't really expected to say no to sex, right? So who am I to complain?" FP shrugged a little while a small chuckle left his mouth.

"Don't make jokes about it." Alice said, not laughing with him.

"Al, it's fine." He assured her, placing his hand over hers that was still gently on his thigh.

"No, it's not. It's not fine." She said, firmly.

"Last night, did you feel like you had to?" Alice asked insecurely, afraid that something had happened that he wasn't okay with.

"What? No, of course not. What gave you that idea?" He said immediately, assuring her that all was fine.

"If I had known that..." Alice stuttered, trying not to get upset.

"Hey, trust me. I wanted to. I really wanted to." He cupped her cheek and looked straight into her eyes.

"With you... that is how it's supposed to feel like." FP said softly, until he realized that those words were way too meaningful for their situation.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have..." He shook his head immediately, not wanting to overstep when they were doing so well.

"I felt it too." She told him softly, before pecking a featherlight kiss on his lips.

**

At the end of the day, Alice barged into City Hall to talk to her friend, and opened the door to his office without a second thought. Fred startled, as he had been concentrated on the paperwork in front of him.

"Alice, I've told you before you can't just barge into my office!" He exclaimed, telling her once more that knocking would be nice.

"It's an emergency." She said, ignoring his comment while grabbing a chair to sit next to him.

"Is something wrong with Charles?" Fred asked worriedly, the parental figure in him taking over.

"What? No, he's fine, don't worry." Alice brushed it off, not even having thought about him thinking that.

"Then what couldn't wait?" Fred asked confused.

"I had sex with FP." Alice said, unable to stop herself from smirking.

"Alice! Are you kidding me?" Fred frowned as he looked at her.

"Wait, you think it was a bad idea?" Alice asked, both a little confused and hurt.

"Obviously!" He exclaimed.

"You've told me for sixteen years to tell him, or to at least give him a call!" Alice said in defense. All this time he had encouraged her and now they were getting closer it suddenly wasn't a good idea?

"To talk, not to have sex. That is where it always goes wrong with the two of you. You completely ignore your feelings and jump right into bed as if that would solve anything." Fred told her firmly, which according to their past was a valid point. It was one of the reasons that they had trouble communicating, which was one of the reasons they drifted apart.

"It wasn't like that!" Alice said, even though she could see why Fred would think that.

"We did talk." She said, softer this time.

"He's miserable in his marriage, Fred." Her eyes shimmered, as she heard his words still echoing in her mind.

"I always believed that he had the perfect life, but his eyes... they are so broken. More than mines ever were." She swallowed her tears, and Fred's face softened too.

"I've made a mistake, Fred. If I had told him then maybe...." Alice started to ramble, but before she could cry he pulled her closer.

"Hey, come here. It's not your fault. You couldn't have known." He shushed her, softly rubbing her arm.

"And now? How do you see your relationship?" He asked her, truly wanting to know what the next step was for them.

"I can't let myself go down that rabbit hole again, can I? But I want him in Charles's life. He deserves that." Alice said, sniffing slightly.

"But you love him, don't you?" Fred questioned, though already knowing the answer.

"Always have. But I'm not sure if it's enough. We changed, Fred. He's not the same FP anymore and I don't even think I'm the same Alice. Not every story gets a happy end." Alice sniffed slightly. She wasn't sure how this could ever end with the both of them being happy.

"I don't think he can ever forgive me." She looked at Fred with tears in her eyes. His hands softly stroke her back, a calming motion that helped her feel better.

"Wasn't he okay?" Fred wondered, as he remembered how they had spoken about it when he had stayed with him.

"He pretends to be, but I know he isn't." Alice said, wiping her tears. She could see right through him, and right now that was a curse.

"With the risk of repeating myself... go talk to him. You know he won't say anything unless you ask." Fred gave her a weak smile.

"I am afraid of the answer. It might be the one thing that prevents us from the happy ending we could have had." Alice's eyes were filled with desperation and hurt, and she could feel her heart clench as she thought about her mistake had changed the rest of their story.

**

Alice had taken Fred's advice and planned on talking to FP, but wherever she went, he was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't in his bedroom in the Wyrm, he wasn't at Fred's, and he wasn't at Pop's. There was just one place she could go to, which was the place Charles had ran to when he found out about his father.

When she walked onto the empty the Twilight drive-in grounds, she noticed that he was sitting at one of the old trucks that had been there for ages. It was the place where FP had found Charles when he ran away.

"Hey, I've been looking for you all over town." Alice said softly, as she approached him.

"I needed some air." FP said quietly, not looking at her yet. She sat down next to him, as carefully as she could.

"I've tried to call Hermione several times, we keep on missing each other." He waved his phone in the air and sighed a little.

"You still talk to Hermione?" Alice wondered, never realizing they were still in contact.

"We're really close, actually." FP smiled slightly. She was his best friend, he couldn't imagine life without her.

"I just need to talk to her, y'know? She has always been my to go to. I need to hear her voice to make sense of this madness." FP said, wishing that she could help him out.

"I'm glad you have her." Alice gave him a weak smile.

"I can't do this, Alice." FP's voice croaked, and for the first time since she had arrived her dared to look at her.

"I know what I said yesterday, and I did mean all that, really." He said immediately, seeing the shimmer of hurt in his eyes. He would never lie about his feelings, and above all she was still his dream.

"But I cannot pretend that you didn't keep my son from me. You knew me better than that, you should've told me. We were more than something casual, we were in love. We might not have said it out loud, but I know we both felt that."

It was the first time they ever spoke about their past feelings, and she could feel her heart jump when he revealed that he had loved her, and how confident he was that she loved him too. It should have been enough, shouldn't it?

"I know, I know I should have, I'll regret forever that I didn't." Alice croaked.

"That isn't going to get me sixteen years back." FP said sadly. He knew she meant her regret, but it simply wouldn't change the present they were in. He wished it did.

"Does it help when I tell you that I won't ever forgive myself for what I did?" She asked quietly, which was a question that hurt him deeper than he ever thought it would.

"No, Alice. You should forgive yourself, and forgive me, and I should forgive you and forgive myself for leaving. That's what we need." His eyes shimmered with tears. It was going to take a while, but he wanted to believe they would get there.

"But I get it. I am not sure I'll ever forgive myself for not letting you know how much I loved you and for how I left without saying goodbye." He knew he had made mistakes too, ones that he knew were just as painful for her.

"Would I have ever known if I wouldn't have come back to Riverdale?" He wondered quietly, absolutely terrified of the answer.

"I always promised myself to tell him, and you, when he was eighteen. That always felt to far away, but he's growing up so fast." Alice wiped away a tear. FP stayed quiet. He wasn't sure if he should be glad with that answer or not.

"Do you ever think we're going to get past this?" She asked quietly, afraid that she might have broken too much in him. He took her hand, which surprised her. His hand felt warm, like always.

"I know I want to. I'll fight for it. I just need time. I want to be okay so I won't have to miss another second, but that's not something I should force." He said softly. As long as they tried, they would get somewhere. They had to.

"We can figure it out together, can't we?" Alice asked hopeful.

"We have to. You mean too much to me not to." He gave her a soft smile. FP was aware that he had his reasons to be angry, to yell, to hurt her back, but he didn't want to.

"Hate and anger has only driven us apart before, it's something I don't want anymore. God, I wish I could scream at you, but I can't." He pulled her a little closer.

"Do you want to scream at me?" She asked quietly.

"I want to scream at the world, at whoever decided this faith." He shook his head confused. Whatever force it was that had their decided they would end up here.

"So, me. You want to scream at me." Alice said quietly.

"When Gladys and I fight, we fight loud. She screams at me. A lot of times I scream back." FP started to tell her, revealing of why he needed this to be different.

"I've seen how that fires back. The only thing is, I don't know what else to do."

After all these years, it was hard to find a way to resolve conflict when all you knew no better. However, this was Alice. She wasn't just any woman. She was the love of his life.

"But what I do know is that the past sixteen years have hurt you too, and I'd rather go through that hurt with you then yell at one another, no matter how hard I wish I could." He looked at her with tear shimmering eyes.

"Seeing the look in your eyes right now hurts more than screaming ever could." Alice said quietly, looking right as his innocent brown orbs.

"I know. I can see it too." He stroke his finger over her cheek, looking right at the devastation in her eyes.

"Charles has your eyes." He said.

"It was the first thing I noticed when I saw him." FP smiled a little.

"It's crazy that I have a kid. The one thing I've always wanted has always been there." He looked back to a spot in front of him, trying to realize that the boy that is so crazy about his work was really his son.

"I wouldn't even know what to say if I would see him." FP smiled sadly. Sixteen years apart felt like a gap they couldn't ever get past.

"He already thinks the world of you." Alice said softly. As a young boy, the creator of Southside Comics had been his hero, and he was even more now.

"Should he?" FP asked insecurely.

"Yeah, I think he should." Alice gave her a warm smile. She thought the world of him too.

Chapter Text

FP made his way down the small stairs that led to the bar, after coming out of his bedroom where he had been all day. Ever since he had woken up he had been working, but nothing seemed good enough. He was in a creative crisis, and though he knew it would come to him one day, all he wanted now was to get some fresh air and a beer.

The bar was crowded, and he noticed the eyes from some Serpents that were following his every step. He ignored them as much as he could, not because he didn't care, but because he knew why they were suspicious. As long as he would get to Alice, things would be fine.

She was at her spot behind the counter, and smiled a little when she saw FP coming her way. They hadn't talked much since their talk at the drive-in, and she wondered if they ever would.

"How was your day?" She asked him, when he sat down in the barstool in front of her.

"Awful. I've been tossing and turning all night and haven't gotten anywhere with work." He confessed, as he exhaled deeply.

However, he wasn't here to talk about his crisis. He needed a break from that, but there was one thing that didn't leave his mind, not even at night, that he badly needed to share with her.

"Can we talk somewhere more private?" He asked her, his voice soft and almost a tad insecure, which she wasn't used to hear from him.

Before Alice could even open her mouth, one of the Serpents made their way over to the two.

"Are you okay, Smith? Do we need to throw him out?" He asked protectively, as he had been eyeing FP all night. If he was bothering the Queen, he would gladly kick him out to the curb. Traitors weren't welcome here.

"No, Blood Eye. It's fine. Keep an eye on the bar for me." She tossed him her tablecloth and gestured for FP to follow her.

If he wanted to talk to her about something between them, she'd rather be alone with him than having Serpents lurk over their shoulders.

She opened the door to her office in the back and flipped the lock, making sure nobody would come waltzing in. Serpents made a habit of that, having questions for her especially when she wanted to be alone. It was out of protectiveness, but sometimes she just wanted some air.

"What is it? You don't still want to leave, do you?" Alice asked him, her voice worried.

She hoped she had convinced him to stay after he panicked, but while she thought about that night, she realized it might be exactly why he wanted to talk to her. Their night of bliss had been left unspoken about.

"No. It's not about Riverdale, or Charles." He assured her.

His mind was somewhere else this time, something he needed to process before he could even let himself think about the son he had, his emotions when it came to having missed sixteen years, or his possible future in this town.

"We haven't spoken about what we did." He said, his voice softening.

FP wasn't one to get insecure quickly, but this was Alice he had been spending an intimate night with, not just any girl.

"And it's all I can think about." He confessed in a whisper, making Alice shiver.

She had been daydreaming about it too, but every single time she did she felt ashamed about the inappropriate things she thought whenever he plagued her mind.

"I've been in a terrible marriage, Alice... but I actually felt alive when we were together." He took a step into her direction, and she involuntarily leant against the end of her desk, as her blue eyes kept following his every move.

"I'm known for having that effect on people." She tried to keep a straight face, but FP paid enough attention to see the way her skin was covered in goosebumps and that her breathing became irregular.

"Don't make me jealous, now." FP closed the distance between them, and breathed his words out in a low whisper. His hands found their way to her thighs, to hold them with a featherlight touch.

"Didn't it do something for you?" He whispered against her skin, knowing that his low voice always awakened something in her.

FP knew that this was wrong, and that they probably should have a real conversation about their past, present and future, but right now he only wanted one thing and that was to feel Alice.

"This is a bad idea..." Alice closed her eyes when she felt his breath ghosting over her throat, wanting nothing more than to feel his lips on her.

She wanted to be strong enough to tell him that this was dangerous in their situation, but she was silly putty in his arms before she could even try to resist.

"We've always made terrible choices, why not a few more?" FP growled and changed his featherlight touch on her legs to a tight grip and hoisted her up her desk, ignoring the way all her stuff was knocked over.

His lips had found their way home on the skin of her neck, and the possessiveness that took over him didn't think twice about marking her with little love bites, like a territorial animal that wanted to show everyone what belonged to him. Little did he know that Alice's heart had always been his, forever and always.

She moaned quietly, no matter how hard she was trying to ignore how hard he was turning her on. This wasn't the same as the emotional hook-up they had two days ago. That one was driven by nostalgia, by fear, by comfort. His touches were more focused, more possessive, more needy than they had been before.

"Be quiet, people can hear us." Alice whispered, as one arm curled around his neck, involuntarily keeping him as close to her as she could.

He took his lips back from her throat to look at her with lust filled eyes. They had a soft spark in them that Alice was afraid of, but she knew why he looked at her like that. He always had, and it was terrifying.

"You used to like that," He smirked, before kissing her hungrily.

She let herself totally drown in his kiss for a little while, finding herself sliding her hands through his dark locks that somehow still felt the same as it always used to do.

She slowly unlocked their lips from one another, making him chase the sweet taste of her lipstick. Tomorrow, or everyday after that she would let herself think of what they were doing here, if this wasn't going to lead to an explosion bigger than the Big Bang, but for now all she wanted was to get lost in him, to forget about all the mistakes she ever had made that had hurt him.

"Get to work." She whispered lowly.

FP smirked. He took off her shirt and quickly made work of his own button-up, making Alice swallow as she looked at his chest. The first time she had barely the chance to look at it in the poorly lit bedroom, but now they were in her office, and suddenly she could see what he really looked like.

Alice worked on her jeans, and he ripped them off her legs, before standing in between them to kiss her soundly. He went down on his knees, his eyes twinkling.

"See? You want this as much as I do." He grinned to himself and softly kissed the skin from the insides her thighs, which were softer than anything in the world.

"Provoke me and you'll get punished for that later." She placed her hand in his dark locks, not yet to tug on it, but as a fair warning.

"There's the Serpent I know." FP whispered with a growl.

He hooked her underwear around his fingers and dragged it down her legs, almost as if she was something delicate that he could break, which was more of the truth than he knew at that very moment.

"I've dreamed of this." He said lowly, his breath ghosting over her sensitive skin.

Alice looked down at him, feeling as if she had landed in one of her daydreams.

"But this is so much better,"

It was the last thing he said before lowering his head between her legs, and all that mattered in that moment was the way Alice let her control completely go.

**

"Are you okay?" Alice dared to gaze at him as they got redressed. He was buttoning up his dress-shirt, and she took her hair back from under the collar of her oversized black shirt.

"Why wouldn't I be? I was the one who came onto you." He shrugged, while getting his belt to buckle his pants.

"You know what I mean." She said, a little firm.

What he had told her about Gladys was still wandering in her mind, and she wanted to make sure that nothing of the sort had happened this time around.

"I'm fine, Alice. Are you?" He softened a little, knowing that she only meant well. He appreciated that she asked, because nobody ever did.

"Yeah, this was good. Maybe we could do it again, sometime." She walked over to him and played a little with the buttons of his shirt.

"We both need it, don't we?" Her question was filled with implications that went way beyond anything physical, but for now it was all she could say.

"I can get on board with that." He wrapped his arms around her waist in an impulse to hold her close.

A soft peck on her lips followed, one that might be too romantic for the situation they were in, but he just didn't know how else to kiss her.

"Let's sneak you out of here." Alice took his hand and wanted to turn to the fire exit, but FP didn't move a muscle.

"Why? You have perfectly good working front door." He arched his eyebrow confused, almost feeling like some dirty little secret that she wanted to get out before anyone would see them.

"You think walking out of there is a good idea now? They will kill you if they even suspect what we've been doing here, and they'll know immediately." Alice pointed out, which was a valid argument.

"Isn't it your own business who you sleep with?" He said confused, thinking that it was odd that a group of middle aged man would have an opinion what she did and with who.

"It is, but Southsiders aren't particularly fond of Northsiders." She sighed, hoping that he would drop it for now. They were just very protective over her, which was both a curse and a blessing.

"Al, I am a Southsider. I've been in the Serpents for crying out loud." He scoffed a little, almost feeling insulted that she forgot who he was.

"They don't know that! Look at you, the only thing missing is bills sticking out of your pockets." She gestured to his appearance, which definitely suggested that he was loaded.

That he had a little bit of a financial problem because of his wife was information the Serpents couldn't see, nor did they need to know.

"Fine. We'll do it your way." FP sighed a little, but understood that maybe for not it was for the best.

She took him outside through the backdoor in her office, so nobody would notice them leaving there together. The hickeys on both their throats and collarbones would be enough proof for anyone to find out what they had been doing.

"Have you spoken to Charles? About me?"

FP leaned against the outside wall of the Wyrm and looked at her with insecure eyes. The streetlights were shining on his face, which is why Alice could perfectly see that he was afraid of the answer.

"Not yet... when I told him you knew, he went to see a friend in Greendale. He'll be back soon." She gave him a small smile.

When he left, Alice had felt as if she had been stabbed in her stomach, but she realized that for a sixteen year old boy, this was a lot to take in. His dad had almost missed seventeen years of his life, and suddenly he was right there. It was an enormous bombshell, and she didn't want to underestimate what it did to the boy.

"Great. He's running away from me." FP huffed, but Alice could see that besides his pretend anger, there was a lot of hurt.

"No, he's not. He just needed a moment to process. I promise." She took a step closer to place a hand on his arm, one that made him meet her eyes.

"I believe you." FP didn't have any other choice. She knew Charles best, so he decided he had to trust her.

"What do you say we'll go to Pop's together, tomorrow night?" Alice proposed, believing that he could use some cheering up.

"You know what, that actually sounds like fun." FP gave her a sweet smile. Spending time with her was something he badly needed.

"I'll pick you up." He promised.

Chapter Text

The sound of his wheels shrieking through the streets would be enough to get the attention of the whole neighborhood, and though Alice thought for a second he was just showing off, she did feel flattered it was all for her. He stopped right in front of her apartment building, where she was waiting at the head entrance.

She looked the same as she always does, dressed in her denim ripped jeans this time, rings on her fingers and a black top. Her blonde curls hang loosely over her shoulders and FP absolutely loved her subtle make-up.

"I'm looking for a beautiful woman to take out on a date. Have you seen her?" He stepped out of his expensive car and smirked brightly when he met her eyes.

"Never said this was a date." Alice corrected him playfully, as she made her way towards him.

"But I am a beautiful woman, so I guess you're here for me." She teased, and she giggled when he looked her up and down.

"You've always been a tease." He said, shaking his head in amusement.

FP opened the car door for her like a true gentleman, before walking to the other side so he could sit down behind the wheel.

"So, this is your car? Looks like it's worth more than my apartment." Alice took a quick glance and chuckled slightly. She didn't think she'd ever been in an expensive car like this one.

"I do love this car." FP said, smiling to himself.

He had worked hard for it. It had been a gift to himself, figuring it would give him a new boost of happiness. It only worked on very rare moments.

He had purposely taken his car to travel to Riverdale instead of a plane, figuring that the roadtrip gave him some time to think and truth to be told, he mostly believed he would change his mind, and his car gave him the possibility to go as soon as he wanted. Fortunately, he had enough reasons to stay, more than he ever thought he would have. His car was a strange metaphor for a quick escape, but FP believed he wouldn't need that anymore.

"Sure, why wouldn't you? A Porsche is basically a sex car." Alice snickered, as she thought of how typically this was for men. It made her a tad more skeptical of what they were doing here.

"Well, this car has never seen any." He told her, which was strangely assuring for Alice.

**

"Can I please eat without you staring at me?" Alice tried to take a bite of her burger, but she felt FP's eyes burning into her very soul.

"Sorry, I was just thinking of how you still eat the same thing you did at seventeen." FP chuckled sweetly, and looked down at her order again. For a little bit, he had seen a vision, one that reminded him of the dates they used to have teenagers.

"You do too." She smiled a little and looked down at his plate.

Everything about them had changed, except for the things they'd like to eat. Nobody would make a big deal out of that, but for them it was a sign that maybe enough things stayed the same to try this again someday.

"Are things any better with Gladys?" Alice asked, after swallowing a bite of her food.

"No, my cards are still frozen. I have one that she doesn't know about, but I need to be careful with that." He told her, feeling his stomach twist as he was reminded about the existence of the one woman that he never wanted to think about for as long as he could.

"So that one is to take me out on a date?" Alice lighted up the mood a little, seeing the frown on his face as soon as she mentioned his wife. She didn't want to be the reason he was upset.

"You said this wasn't a date." FP smirked.

"Do your best and I might think differently." Alice took a sip of her milkshake, and FP laughed.

She still had the same feisty and flirty attitude she always had, and he was afraid it was going to make him fall again for the second time in his life.

"I've really missed this, Al." He said lovingly, almost making Alice tear up by the way he looked at her.

"Us, sitting together in a booth at Pop's... not caring about the rest of the world for a bit. Feels like old times."

"You mean when we ran away from my always high on whatever mother, and you mean drunk father?"

Alice played with one of her fries and huffed a little as the memory of the two people that had made their childhood miserable made their way back into their minds like an old demon that returned to haunt them.

She looked up and met his teary eyes, and before she knew it she turned his hand with her own, to slide her fingers delicately over his wrist, the one wound that she knew must still hurt him.

"You were the only person I wanted to run with." He took his chance to intertwine their fingers.

"Until you ran away from me." Alice said quietly, carefully taking her hand back.

"You're right, I did." FP swallowed. He wished he didn't, but he had and he had never told her why.

"I thought that you and Fred had a thing behind my back. Gladys was telling me about it, and suddenly it was all I could see." He confessed, still feeling deeply embarrassed.

"She convinced me to go with her, so I didn't have to face the humiliation."

It felt he was telling a stupid excuse, but the seventeen year old boy that saw the girl he loved so much with the friend that felt like a brother had broken something in him that was so frightening strong, that running away seemed his only option.

"Gladys told you that?" Alice asked quietly, suddenly realizing how all of it fitted together.

"FP, nothing ever happened between me and Fred. I loved you." She said, taking his hand back into her own.

"And I loved you." He confessed, tightening the grip.

"But I am here now. I promise."

**

FP was about to drive of the Pop's parking lot to bring Alice home, but she could sense that he had some negative feelings were taking over his body. His shoulders were tense and his brows were turned into a frown, probably without his own knowledge.

"Wait, park the car over there." She told him, gesturing for the back, just out of sight from the rest of the lot.

He looked confused, but did as she told him.

"Everything alright?" FP figured something was going with her, that maybe she felt that there were some things left unsaid that she wanted to say out loud.

"Yes, I just want you to relax." She took off her shirt and popped open her jeans, making FP look at her with wide eyes.

She shimmied out of the denim and made her way over to his seat, where she straddled his lap, her lips ghosting right over his.

"I like where this is going." FP whispered lowly, as his hands tightened on her hips. She was a beautiful vision, and he barely believed it was all for him.

"You said this car had never seen any sex... let's change that." Alice whispered seductively, before sweeping her tongue into his mouth, to give him a little taste of what was about to come.

FP hungrily melted into the lustful way she kissed him, again feeling like he had been sucked into one of his daydreams. Having Alice in her underwear in his lap all for him was something he always felt ashamed to have fantastized about, but as for right now he had the real thing, which felt strangely like a trick of his mind.

But it was really her, and he knew her body, and the things she liked, the things she wished for him to do. His hands squeezed her waist, and for a second there Alice unlocked their lips, and brushed her nose against his, a telltale sign for him to say what was on his mind.

"I know you like to be in control..." He began carefully, his voice raspy with lust.

Alice pressed her finger to his lips, shushing him with a gesture that made his shiver all over. He gently kissed the tip that he felt against his lips, before she spoke.

"I can let go with you, FP. I have control over so many things in my life, for once I just want to let go, to have someone else have control over me. You're the only one I trust." She whispered lowly, her eyes closed as she tried to regulate her breath.

It was nerve-wrecking for her to give someone else that power, but as she hears herself talk she realized that it felt natural to hand that over to him, because he is simply her other half.

She would give him everything of her, and even if she would say there wasn't anything between them anymore, she knew that he would always have enough of her to be the one to hurt her. But all Alice knew, was that if there had to he someone to have that power, she wanted it to be FP.

"Good. Because I need to be back in control." He said lowly, looking directly at her.

His marriage has had a deathgrip on him, and though he knew he was slowly wiggling his way out of there, he needed to have one moment of power.

He shoved his hands towards her ass and squeezed roughly, telling her that he meant it when he said he was going to take control. With one swift move, he pushed his seat backwards, giving them actual space, one they would be needing with what he had in mind for her.

FP badly needed something to hold onto, and right now she was all he wished for to be his savior, to drag him out of the nightmare that had become his life.

And Alice? Alice could finally admit to herself that even a strong, independent, not afraid of anyone kind of woman needed someone in her life to give some control, making sure she could breathe just for a moment.

**

Alice was anxiously waiting for FP, who had called to ask if he could speak to her again, with something that had been weighing negatively on his mind. She could feel it too, but the daredevil she used to be was long gone when it came to her emotions. She couldn't break his heart, twice.

"Hey..." He made his way into her office, which somehow had turned to the place where they could talk in private.

"You wanted to talk?" She stood up from the edge of her desk, and looked at him with inviting eyes.

"If that is alright?" He asked, swallowing a little.

"Always." Alice gave him a warm smile. He didn't need to be afraid, whatever he wanted to say would be okay. They were done running.

"This thing we've been doing... it's amazing, like earth-shattering amazing, but..." He struggled to finish his sentence. How could he possibly explain all that he was feeling without stepping on her heart?

"It confuses me, Alice." He confessed, his shoulders relaxing a little.

"I know I am the one to suggest to do this, but turns out I can't without getting confused about what I feel."

FP wished he could say that this wasn't just sex for him, that being with her after the history they had and the possible future was just simply too much. He'd rather settle for keeping his distance now to grow into the man she deserved to have, than go for temporary pleasure that would hurt both of them.

"So, I think we should focus on one thing together and that is Charles." He ended softly, which was his biggest wish.

All he wanted was to become a father and co-parent for Charles and Alice who they could lean on, to grow into a significant part of their life.

"You're right, I was having a hard time trying to keep my feelings out of this too." Alice usually didn't blush, but telling FP that she felt something more too was a hard thing to do. It made her vulnerable.

"So you're not mad?" He asked her, his sweet innocent puppy eyes making an appearance that always made her week in the knees.

"Little disappointed that we won't have any fun anymore, but it's for the best." She chuckled a little, and it effectively broke the ice.

"But while you're here, I'd like to introduce you to the Serpents."

She had thought about it all night, and now they had decided to put anything physical between them on old, it was time to fully make him part of her life in a way that was most meaningful to her.

"Come," She took his hand, which felt comfortingly romantic, no matter what they had just said to one another.

"Attention, everyone?" Alice walked up the stage and tapped on the microphone, with an uncomfortable FP standing right behind her. He knew what they thought of him; he didn't even blame them.

"I know that a lot of you have seen FP around the last couple of weeks, and clearly some of you have a problem with that." Alice started, with a bitter tone in her voice to call out the behavior of some of them. She had heart the chatter, and she didn't appreciate it one bit.

"As your Queen, I am telling you to make an old friend feel welcome." She took a step aside and gestured for FP to come closer.

"After all, he's one of us."

"That man is a Serpent?" Blood Eye shouted confused, still a little suspicious of the rich guy in his expensive outfits.

The judgement was all FP needed to hear to make an important statement, one that he simply could do by unbuttoning his shirt, to show the giant Serpent on the side of his chest.

"You have the same one as Smith." Blood Eye said, now clearly impressed.

"We got them together. One of the best memories of my life." FP said, as he gazed at Alice.

"He's one of us now. We take care of our own." Alice entwined their hands again, and somehow it symbolized the start of the bond they would have until their very last breaths and beyond.

Chapter Text

FP was working in the small bedroom that was temporarily his home, when his phone kept on ringing and ringing. His strategy was to ignore and just focus on his drawings, but it seemed impossible. So, he decided to bite the bullet and talk to her— once.

"Finally! How many times do I have to call for you to pick up?!" Gladys snapped immediately, when she heard that he had answered her call.

"I had other things to think about, Gladys. Believe it or not but the world doesn't revolve around you all the time." He said annoyed, scoffing a little.

"Are you kidding me, Jones? Everything I do is for your career. Don't paint me as the bad guy when I work my ass off to convince your publisher that you'll have something ready soon. Things are tense here while you are out there on some hippie tour to find yourself." Gladys exclaimed for the other side of the line.

"My life is no party either, if that is what you think. But you know what, I'll send you a draft right now. That will keep them busy for a while." FP groaned annoyed and opened his laptop to scan through his digital files.

"Fine. Send me now so I can see it." Gladys said, not completely satisfied, but it was a start.

FP clearly wasn't done yet, and all the versions he had made before weren't the right ones to end with, he knew that. But as for right now it was the only thing he could offer her and if that would get her off his back he didn't even care if she'd publish it or not. At least his nightmare would be over. As soon as he hit send, Gladys instantly opened the file and scanned through it.

"Is this it? Are you serious? This is the finale of your story and this is what you came up with? You can't leave people with so many questions left unanswered, FP. That is not the agreement." Gladys said, furiously reading the file he had e-mailed her.

"It's what I have so far. If they are not satisfied they need to have patience." He told her, trying to keep his calm.

"You can't put time on art, Gladys."

"Yes I can, and I will. You've got two days. I am done covering for you." Gladys told him angrily.

"How can you even stay there without any money? Are you parading around like a nomad?" She asked, wondering how he could survive after she had blocked his credit cards.

"None of your damn business." He hissed, before hanging up the phone.

Little did FP know, that Gladys wasn't in New York anymore. No, she had arrived in Riverdale days ago, planning on putting and end on this for good.

**

Fred was having a drink at the Wyrm to blow off some steam after a long day, and smiled at FP when he saw him coming down from his bedroom. He was grinning, as if he had just won something.

"You seem cheery tonight, FP... why's that?" Fred asked, when he came walking his way.

"Because for the first time in my life I am not letting someone else control me. It feels great." FP said, smiling brightly.

"Did Gladys come to her senses?" Fred wondered, which seemed like a unlikely scenario.

"No, only if hell freezes over." FP said.

"I sent her a draft of the ending, an unsatisfying one. She's pissed but for once I can't get myself to care. Never felt like that before. It's great." He smiled again, but a little less convincing than a few seconds ago.

"Kind of sounds like you freed yourself from something." Fred said, hoping that he truly had escaped out of her grasp.

"Look. This is part of the last edition." FP took the map that was under his arm and handed it over to Fred, so he could take a look. It were drawings that he hadn't showed anybody yet.

"Wonder what Frank is up to." Fred said knowingly, as he opened the folder.

"You know, huh?" FP said, blushing slightly.

"Known since the very first edition." Fred said, grinning at his friend.

"Do you mind that I used you for one of my characters?" FP asked, though it was a little late.

"Are you kidding? I've always felt honored. Made me feel like you still cared, even when you weren't here." Fred answered genuinely, giving FP a warm smile.

"I'm so sorry for resenting you all these years based on assumptions that weren't even true. I wish I could turn back time and do it all over again." FP said honestly, hoping that one day Fred would forgive him. Little did he know that Fred had already forgave him a long time ago.

"I know, brother. All is forgiven. You're here now." He said, assuring him that there were no hard feelings.

**

Around one in the morning, Alice was cleaning up the bar before going home herself. FP and Fred were helping her restock the bar, so she wouldn't have to do that all on her own tomorrow afternoon.

The front door squeaked open and she figured that someone came for a drink just after closing. She would gladly recommend for them to go to Pop's, though.

"Sorry, we're closed tonight." She said politely, looking up at the dark haired woman who stepped further into the bar.

"I am not here for a drink. Something tells me my husband is here. FP Jones?" She arched her eyebrow, and suddenly Alice froze. After all these years, she hadn't recognized her.

"Gladys..." She whispered quietly.

As if on cue, FP and Fred came back up from the basement and they too froze when they saw who was standing in the middle of the Wyrm.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" FP hissed through his teeth as he stormed over to her, ready to kick her out.

"You were getting too brave for my liking, FP. What is that garbage you send me? I am not going to play this game any longer. You are coming home, right now." She told him firmly, as if it wasn't up for discussion. Alice remembered his words. She could be controlling.

"We're not doing this here." FP said, gesturing for her to go outside so they could have a little bit more privacy. He didn't have anything to hide towards either Alice or Fred, but in the end this was something between the two of them.

Fred and Alice shared a concerned look, but both of them knew better than to follow them right now. They trusted FP enough to call for them if he needed help.

It was dark outside and the only light source making it possible to see each other was the full moon, the bright stars, and the light surrounding the Wyrm. Somehow, it was exactly the way he felt whenever she was around. Everything was always dark.

Even in a town with so much history, with people who kept secrets from him, was more daylight than there ever had been in his marriage. He took a deep breath, finally deciding to stick up for himself the way he should've done years before.

"The only one playing a game here, is you. You've been doing this ever since high school and even now you want to pull all the strings. For the first time, I'm standing up for myself and I won't be intimidated by you or anyone else. Game over, Gladys. You can't always win." He said, his eyes shimmering with more tears than he wanted to show.

"You'll get sued if you don't deliver as promised, FP." Gladys said, her eyes burning with anger.

"I gave you something. Publish it for all I care, if that is what it takes for me to get out of this prison." FP said, finally giving up.

It was his life work, but it wasn't worth all the suffering. He didn't care if he'd mess up now, he just wanted for it to be over. He'd sacrifice everything if he could stay here with his family, even something as dear to him as Southside Comics.

"Are you that selfish? Don't you care about letting your fans down?" Gladys scoffed.

"I don't live for the fans, Gladys! I live for me, only for me!" FP exclaimed loudly.

"I love the characters I've created, but not only because they are mine... but because they are real. And for so long I only had this fictional world that kept me close to the place, to the people, I care about most. But I think I can have the real version, now. And trust me, I wouldn't want to trade that ever again."

"It's about her, isn't it?" She asked him, surprisingly calm.

"Of course it is! It has always been and you knew that. You were the one pulling me away and forced me into having to create flat two dimensional characters because you kept me away from what I really needed."  FP said, finally seeing everything as it were. It took him sixteen years, but things had never been so crystal clear.

"Don't you dare to paint me as the bad one, when all I did was put my blood, sweat and tears into your career. This is not what you want FP, nor what you need. You're stuck in this melancholic and nostalgic feeling but I am not going to along with it. " She started her rant, looking straight into his eyes, seeing him tear up. His pain meant nothing to her— it never had.

"You're not Rapunzel stuck in her tower, it's time for you to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for your pain when you've created it yourself. You were nothing more than trailer trash before you met me and still you want to blame me for every single thing in your life when you should be thanking me on your bare knees."

FP was speechless. Not because he didn't have anything to say, but because this was the last push that she needed to give for him to break. Every single time, his soul earned a new crack created by her and he would swear that this time, something cracked for good.

"You really don't see it, do you?" A voice said from behind him, making him look over his shoulder. It was Alice. She had come outside.

"Are you here to save the princess?" Gladys asked sarcastically, crossing her arms.

"Shut up!" Alice hissed.

"You broke something in him, Gladys. The FP that I saw the day he walked into my bar, I barely recognized him. That wasn't the FP that left town." She said, getting emotional.

"You did that to him. You made him into something that he's not for your own gain." Alice pointed her finger at Gladys, trying her hardest to keep her calm.

"Do you have a heart? Do you know what it means when someone tells you no? When they ask you to stop?" Alice took a step closer into her direction, but those words created a state of panic inside of FP.

"Alice, go away." He said, holding her back with his hand.

"No! She did something terrible to you and she should pay, FP. Burning in hell isn't enough." Alice said emotionally.

"Go! Now!" He shouted loudly, telling her how serious he was.

Alice swallowed. He had never yelled at her before. She nodded slightly and turned back to the Wyrm, leaving the two alone again.

"What was she insinuating, FP? Say it then, if you're such a big boy." Gladys looked straight at him with her cold eyes, but FP wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing what she did.

"I'm cutting the strings, Gladys. I am not your puppet anymore." FP said quietly, before turning around and going back to the place that felt more like home than being with her had ever done.

Chapter Text

FP slowly made his way back into the Wyrm, feeling ashamed, confused and free all at the same time. His string to Gladys was cut, but he wondered at what cost. He sighed deeply, while leaning against the bar, pinching his nose in frustration.

"Are you okay, brother?" Fred dared to ask.

"No. I need a drink." He grumbled, walking behind the counter to get himself a scotch.

"Be careful with that." Fred warned him, knowing that he might drink more than he could handle.

"I just lost someone who controlled me and I am not looking for a replacement, thank you very much." FP snapped annoyed, but immediately regretted his words when he saw the hurt flash in his friend's eyes.

"Sorry, I am just on edge." He apologized.

"Is she going to leave you alone?" Fred wondered, hoping for FP that this was the end of it.

"No, definitely not. But I am not falling for her mind tricks again, so there's that." FP said, sighing a little. It was a step into the right direction.

His eyes fell on Alice, who stood a few feet away from him as if she was scared to come closer. He knew that he had lashed out on her, which wasn't fair.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. It's just that... when you asked me if there might have happened something that I wasn't okay with... it was the first time I realized what was going on. Ever since that moment, I've been so... mad. At her, at myself... Everything was so suddenly so clear. I liked things better when it was all so blurry." He confessed, with a crack in his voice.

"But if I don't open my eyes for what happened the past sixteen years, I won't be able to move on. For that to happen, I need to go through this reality. No matter how much it hurts." His eyes shimmered with tears, but as he looked at her he knew he would be fine.

"Come here." Alice gestured for him to come closer, as all she could give him was the comfort of a hug.

He accepted her embrace and pulled her close, and just like that it felt like time hadn't passed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, that wasn't my place." Alice said, feeling the need to apologize to him as well.

"It's okay. It felt nice to have someone stand up for me. Haven't felt what that is like in sixteen years." He gave her a soft smile.

"You can stay with me tonight, if you'd like? I don't like the idea of you being alone right now." Alice said sweetly, hoping that he'd be okay with that. She didn't want to leave him in Wyrm tonight, not when he was feeling like this.

"Yeah, I'd like that." He smiled. He did need to be around her, staying her all by himself would only make him spiral. With her, all that simply disappeared for the time being.

Fred walked over to the two and placed his hand on FP's shoulder.

"You're not alone, my friend. This fight against Gladys? We're in there with you." He promised.

"Thanks, Fred. Maybe I have a chance of winning with the two of you by my side." FP knew that it could turn out to be a nasty fight, but he trusted Fred and Alice enough to know that they would support him in everything.

**

Alice and FP made their way up the stairs towards her apartment, and as she looked for her keys, she remembered something important. Just before they were about to enter, she looked up at him.

"Before we go in... Charles is here. I know you haven't seen each other since..." Her sentence trailed of, afraid to say the words out loud and upset him even more.

He had gotten back from Greendale yesterday, but she only realized the complications of what was about to come when the only thing that separated them was the front door.

"What I am trying to say is, if it's too much just say the word." She told him, giving him a soft smile. After everything, she could imagine that he wasn't ready to face this part of his life. She would give him time, if he needed that.

"I want to see him, Alice. I'm okay, I promise you." He said, determined and sweet. Alice smiled back. If he said he was ready than she believed him.

She turned her keys in the lock and made her way inside, FP following behind her.

"Honey, we're home." Alice greeted Charles, who was reading his Comics on the couch. He looked up to smile at his mother, until his eyes went wide when he saw who was with her.

"FP... you're here." Charles said, smiling a little. He hadn't gotten the chance to talk to his father ever since he had found out about their bond.

"He's staying over tonight, as a friend." Alice explained, so there'd be no mistake of why he was there.

She figured that Charles would ask what happened, but instead FP's gaze was fully fixated on his son, as he slowly walked his way. Charles seemed to sense it, because he stood up from the couch.

"Your Mom told me..." FP said emotionally, not sure how to follow up. This was his son, and yet he had no idea what to say. But he didn't have to say anything.

Charles suddenly hugged his father, wanting to hold him and never let go. FP was caught of guard for a brief second, but then fell into the embrace and held him tight.

"Would it be okay if we got to know each other a little bit better?" FP asked, when he pulled him back a little.

"I would love that more than anything." Charles said, his heart beating faster.

"Me too." FP smiled.

"I promise you that we're going to talk, okay? About anything you want to know." He told him, not only promising to share his stories, but that he would stay around in Riverdale for it as well.

"Okay. I'm glad you stayed." Charles looked at his parents and smiled a little. All would be fine, he believed.

"I wouldn't walk away from you." FP promised, which made Charles tear up. He waved them goodbye before leaving to his bedroom, sensing that his parents needed a moment alone.

"He looks so much like you." FP said immediately, when Charles had left.

"You think? I always see you whenever I look at him." Alice said sweetly.

"So, this is where you live?" FP looked around the apartment. It was small and cosy, but it truly felt like a home, which was more than anything he ever had.

"It's a lot smaller than what you must be used to." Alice felt a little ashamed, but he was deeply impressed.

His eyes glued to something specific on the fireplace mantel, that he walked towards.

"The portrait... you kept it?" He grinned brightly, as he looked at the drawing he did of her back in high school.

"Of course I did. I remember when you gave it to me." Alice walked over to him and smiled.

"You had turned seventeen. I couldn't afford a present so I made you this." He said, replaying the memory in his head.

"And it's still the best present I've ever gotten." She told him, genuinely. FP looked at her and smiled sweetly.

"Come, we need to sleep. You had a long day." She said, swiftly stroking his cheek.

He followed her to the bedroom, where she started to undress herself to put on her sleepshirt without a second thought.

He stood a little uncomfortably on the other side of the bed, not sure what to do.

"Al, I wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch, you know?" He said carefully, thinking that it would be wrong for him to assume he could stay with her.

"Don't you want to sleep here with me?" She asked insecurely, once she had her shirt over her head. It reached her midthigh, and he couldn't stop looking at her even if he tried.

"Yes, I do, I just didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He told her, giving her a small smile. This was her home, her save haven, and he just didn't want to impose.

Alice walked over to him and placed her hands on his arms, before letting them slide over his chest. He tried not to be affected by it, but it was impossible.

"I know we have so much to talk about... but tonight I just want you near, is that okay?" She asked him, her eyes twinkling.

"I want that too." He said quietly, smiling a little when he saw the way she looked at him.

FP changed into something more comfortable as well, feeling his heart beat faster and faster with having her so close by, without actually having her. They had crawled under the sheets together, and Alice had turned off her nightlight before wishing him a goodnight.

FP turned on his side away from her, but his eyes were wide open. He wasn't sure how he could sleep with her so close by. If he listened carefully, he could hear her breathe. He decided to turn on his back, and exhaled deeply.

Alice turned on her back as well, which made him turn his head to look at her. Their eyes met, but they didn't say anything. Maybe words weren't needed. Alice scooted over until she could snuggle up to him, and without saying anything, she wrapped her arms around him in a protective way. Instinctively, he wrapped her up in his own arms too. She felt safe.

Before letting herself fall asleep secured in his arms, she looked at him, and when they looked at each other they held their gazes a little longer, as if they were asking for permission. But then Alice pecked his lips, which meant enough for FP to softly push her into the mattress and kiss her harder, deeper and more passionate.

And though they could easily let it evolve into something more, for the time being they were content with kissing, touching and holding each other. They took the time to map out each other's body after sixteen years apart.

FP's hand was creeping under her shirt to tickle the skin on her abdomen, when her phone began to ring. They broke their kiss, both of them totally breathless and looked at each other with confusion.

"It's past midnight, who's calling you?" FP said quietly.

Alice looked at the number that she didn't recognize, but picked up anyway.

"Hello?" She said, a little suspicious.

Her face turned pale when she listened to what the person on the other line had to tell her. FP could feel that it was bad news and placed his hand on her lower back.

"Oh my god, yes I'll be right there. Thank you." She said hastily, before hanging up.

"The Wyrm is on fire." Alice said frantically, as she looked at FP.

Chapter Text

Alice had been too stressed to even think clearly about what she had to do next, which is why FP saw it his responsibility to wake up Charles and call Fred, telling him to come to the Wyrm as soon as possible.

In a rush, they had made their way over to the bar and when Alice saw the smoke coming out of her life's work she let out a heartbreaking sob. FP quickly took her hand, figuring she was going to need his support. She held onto it tightly, like he was her lifeline and she'd die if she'd let go.

They hurried inside, where the firemen had put out the fire as fast as they could. Fortunately, it was only one side of the bar that was still smolding in ashes.

"Miss Smith?" One of the firemen approached her, a sad look on his face.

"I'm so sorry. We've tried to limit the damage as much as we possibly could, but it's still worse than we'd ever hoped." He gestured to the front, where she could see the stairs almost collapsing.

Alice cried silently, having no words to describe how she was feeling. Usually, she always knew what to say but something was squeezing her throat shut. She couldn't speak.

FP didn't hesitate and pulled her close into his embrace, soothing her softly. He couldn't magically make it all better, but he was going to try anyway.

"Do we know what started the fire?" FP asked, wanting to get some more information.

"It seems like it's foul play. It started upstairs, in the office." The fireman told him, gesturing for the door that led to place that used to be an office.

"The place you stayed...." Fred said, immediately connecting the dots and looked at FP in worry. What would've happened if Alice hadn't invited him over?

"But how could...." Alice wanted to ask so many things, but she couldn't even finish one sentence.

"Someone started the fire, miss Smith. It looks like you have an enemy out there who's out to hurt you." He said, giving her a sad look. Of course he wished he didn't have to bring her such bad news, but there was no doubt in his mind. This was arson.

"Who would do something like that?" Charles said, both confused, sad and angry.

"We don't know, kid. But if you do know anything of value, please let the police now. They are taking over this case. They will be here soon to do an inspection." He told them, telling him that their job was done. The police was going to find out what really happened.

"Thank you, sir." FP thanked him kindly, still holding Alice as close as he could.

"Come, sit down." He gestured for one of the booths, where they all took a seat.

"We're gonna get whoever did this to you, Mom." Charles promised, as he tried to catch her eyes.

"This is my life's work. I've tried to create a home for the Serpents that is way more than just a bar and now... it is ruined." Alice said sadly, her shoulders still shocking.

"What if it isn't you who they were trying to hurt?" Fred said suddenly, making all eyes turn his way.

"They said the fire started in the room where FP was staying? What if someone knew? Do you have any enemies?" He asked FP, even though it felt like a long shot.

"Besides my wife? Not that I know of." FP said, not believing this was a great lead.

"But even Gladys wouldn't be that insane." He said. However, Fred had another gut feeling.

"Maybe we should read over your contract tomorrow, just in case. It might give some insights to see who's upset about your trip to Riverdale." Fred told him.

"And if that doesn't lead to anything, we can focus on this town. That is going to be a longer search." If they could eliminate the possible scenario of someone wanting to hurt FP, then they could focus their attention on other suspects.

"We're helping you through this, Alice." Fred said determined. She gave him a halfhearted smile.

"I want to go home. I want to sleep and forget this night." She said, quickly stepping outside of the booth.

"Al, the police are coming soon." FP stood up as well and hoped she'd see that staying around just a little longer was necessary.

"I don't care! I don't want to be here, I can't." Alice said panicking, as her breathing pattern quickened.

"Go home. Fred and I will wait for the cops." Charles said, looking at his parents.

"Are you sure?" FP asked, doubting if this was the right thing.

"Positive. Go." Charles gave him an assuring nod. FP nodded back, and took Alice by her arm to take her with him and bring her home.

**

Once back at her apartment, Alice let herself fall onto the couch, hiding her face into her hands. FP stood in the kitchen, figuring that a hot beverage could make her feel better.

"I made you some tea." He said softly, as he sat next down to her. She accepted it gratefully. The mug was warming her hands.

"Sorry for yelling." She said ashamed.

"You can yell as much as you want." FP told her, giving her a sweet smile.

"One of the few things that seems untouched was the pooltable." FP said quietly. It was the first thing he had noticed when they had walked into the half destroyed bar.

"Our table." Alice said softly, cuddling up closer to him.

"Maybe the flames knew that it couldn't be destroyed." FP said quietly, lifting his hand to comb through her hair.

"I'm so glad you are here, FP." Alice said emotionally, making him look up her with those brown, innocent and loving eyes. He was glad to be there, too.

**

The following day, they returned to the Wyrm, which was temporarily closed by now. However, they weren't there to work, they were going to look over FP's contract to see if there was a lead.

"So, what do you think?" FP asked, as Fred finished reading.

"It says here that whenever you shall pass, all royalties from Southside Comics will go to your children." Fred said, turning the page to FP.

"Yeah, so? I wanted that in my contract just in case." FP said. Gladys never even wanted children and she had no idea about Charles, just like he hadn't until recently.

"That's not all... it also says that if there isn't any offspring, it will all go to your wife, Gladys Jones." Fred said, thinking that they had bait.

"FP, I'm not saying she would do such a thing, but it's something we need to keep in consideration." He said, knowing he had to handle this situation with caution.

FP's face fell, as if he was suddenly hit by a sudden realization that crumbled down his world. He stood up from the booth, his eyes filling with tears while he tried to keep himself together.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked, hoping he would turn around to meet her eyes.

"It all makes so much sense now...." FP said, scoffing through his tears. He turned back to Alice, Fred and Charles.

"This is why she didn't want to have kids. This is why she is so eager to get the ending. She wants to take it all away from me." FP said emotionally.

Everything flashed in front of his eyes. Him proposing to start trying for a baby, Gladys exploding time after time until he was too afraid to even ask, making him believe that maybe he just wasn't cut out to be a father.

"Let's not jump to conclusions." Alice said, believing that it was unthinkable. She didn't like Gladys, but that would go a bit too far, didn't it?

"No, you don't know her like I do. Every single time I spoke to hear about having a family, she got so angry, up to the point I was too scared to bring it up." FP said, growing more infuriated. He let a tear fall, which he quickly wiped, hoping that nobody had seen it.

"Everything, me, the comics, our marriage... it was all one big show to cash at the end. It was never about believing in me. It was about money." He clenched his fists, having too many anger with no outlet.

"If you really believe this, then maybe we should go to the police. It might not have been a coincidence that she showed up a day before the fire. She might have been here for days." Fred said, as carefully as possible.

"I need some air," FP stood up and made his way out of the bar in a hurry. Alice wanted to get up and run after him, but Fred held her back.

"Let's give him a minute." He said.

The three all looked devastated, trying to comprehend what could've happened. In a way, Alice had saved his life. They didn't even want to think where FP would be right now if it wasn't for her.

The sound that was breaking them out of their emotional bubble of silence, were the clacking of high heels on the wooden floor.

"I thought I was going to catch a quick drink here, but it looks like you're renovating?" A voice called sassily, making them look up.

It was Gladys. She stood there, in an expensive suit and a smug smile on her face.

"Always thought you couldn't manage a bar, Alice. You really proved everyone's assumptions of you." Gladys gestured around to the damaged part of the bar, and even smiled.

"Get the fuck out of here, Gladys." Alice stood up in a rush, ready to bawl her first and punch her.

"Why the long face?" She said, faux nice. Gladys knew exactly why Alice was upset, and she almost couldn't feel prouder.

"You don't have the money to fix it, do you?" Gladys crossed her arms and arched her eyebrow. Having Alice suffer was just a bonus.

"It's time for you to go. You're not welcome here." Fred said, before either Alice or Gladys would do something they'd regret.

"I was looking for FP, have you seen him?" Gladys said, trying to play innocent. She knew exactly where he was.

"You hoped I was dead, didn't you?" FP's voice called from behind her. He had come back.

Gladys swallowed. He didn't have a scratch, when he was supposed to be dead. That was the plan. And he ruined it.

"You're my husband, why would I hope so? You know I love you." She wanted to approach him with a smile, playing the perfect wife. But he saw right through her.

"Cut the crap." He snapped.

"You've tried to kill me," FP looked straight into her eyes, to find any kind of remorse, of guilt, maybe of love even. But her eyes were as cold as they had always been.

"And in trying so, you ruined the home of so many Serpents." He said, for the first time feeling how they were still a home to him, even after years apart.

"I wasn't here, the night you set the fire." He told her, taking a step into her direction.

"What the hell are you accusing me of, FP?" Gladys said, raising her eyebrow dangerously.

FP walked towards the booth and grabbed the files, which he handed over to her.

"Here, read it. It's my contract. When I die, it's all yours. Every penny." He said. Gladys looked at it, but she knew it as the back of her hand. It had been everything she had held onto for the last ten years.

"You always managed every single second of my life, and because I was stupid enough to trust you I didn't see you were planning my own damn murder in front of my eyes." FP spat, fighting against his tears.

"I'm going to call the police." Fred said quietly, already making his way to the landline.

"No." FP turned his head and held his hand up to stop him.

Everyone froze, wondering what his next step would be. He looked at Gladys again, his eyes filled with tears that only needed one tiny push to fall.

"Did you ever believe in me? Just once? Even for one second?" He asked emotionally.

It had been disguise, pretending to be the encouraging wife. Telling him to create more, to draw more, to go the extra mile, all to make more money. The money she had been after from the start.

Gladys remained silent, not being able to give him the answer he hoped for. FP nodded sadly and quickly wiped away the tears that fell. He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing him break. She had done that one too many times already.

FP looked at Fred, Alice and lastly at Charles. Gladys had no idea that the teenage boy was his son, and he'd die protecting that secret from her. She was never going to find out. When it was his time, FP would gladly leave Southside Comics to his son. He wouldn't change that in his contract, ever. It belonged to Charles.

"This is what we're gonna do. You sign the divorce papers and you never contact me, or anyone I care about, ever again. You'll disappear out of my life, forever." FP said, knowing that he had the upper hand here. He was doing her a favor by not handing her over to the police and she should be thanking him on her bare knees.

"And if you do come back, I won't hesitate to throw you into jail. I think the proof we have is pretty solid, so don't even think of outsmarting me." FP said firmly, making sure that she knew that he wasn't messing around.

"As you wish." Gladys knew she was defeated and gave up on the plan that she had crafted for ten years.

Chapter Text

Charles walked out of his bedroom, yawning loudly and still dressed in his pajamas. He noticed that FP was sitting at the dinner table, fully dressed, with a cup of coffee in his hand. He seemed to he stuck in his thoughts, because he hadn't heard Charles.

"Good morning. Have you been awake for long?" He said, catching his father's attention.

FP looked a little bewildered but smiled a little when he saw that it was only Charles. They hadn't gotten the chance to really talk, which was understandable considering all the crazy things that had happened.

"Hey... yeah for a few hours. I didn't want to wake your mother." He said, smiling slightly.

"Are you okay? Yesterday was pretty intense." He asked carefully, as if he was afraid FP would break if he was more direct with his question.

Charles sat down on one of the chairs and tried to catch his father's eyes. He wasn't even sure how someone could feel after finding out their spouse was out to murder them.

"Every single day since I've returned to Riverdale has been intense. Same old, I'll say." FP chuckled a little. This town had always been insane, and he didn't see that changing.

"Because of everything we haven't really gotten a chance to talk, have we?" FP questioned, suddenly feeling guilty of not approaching him sooner.

"I didn't want to push you. I can imagine that it's a lot for you too." Charles said, blushing a little. Now he had his father in his life, he didn't want to do anything to upset him or scare him away.

"How are you feeling, Charles?" He asked, hoping to get an honest answer.

Charles took a moment to look at FP, trying to find the words of what when through his head. He took a deep breath, before trying to explain him what he felt as best as he could.

"I wish it felt completely natural, but it's hard. I always believed that once I'd found my Dad, we would look at each other and have this amazing bond as if we were never apart. But I made that up in my mind and now I don't know what to do." He confessed, a little ashamed.

It was something he had thought about for years, but even after reading FP's work since he was six, he couldn't help but realize that a bond didn't magically appear. They had to work for that. FP nodded slightly. He understood perfectly well what he meant.

"Even when we have a lot to catch up on, I want you to know how thankful I am that you're my son. If there was something I ever dreamed of, then it was having kids. I might have missed sixteen years, but I'm not missing another day." FP promised him sweetly.

"You won't? You want for me to be your son?" Charles said hopeful, his eyes twinkling.

He knew from the start that there could be a chance of FP not wanting to be involved, that maybe it was too much for him to handle. He was afraid that after sixteen years it was a lost cause, but when he saw his eyes he knew that FP was going to stick around.

"Of course I do. From the start it was obvious that you are a wonderful boy. I'm the luckiest man on earth that you're mine. Still can't believe something so good came from me." FP smiled brightly, truly proud if the boy he could call his son. Charles smiled back, being too speechless to even thank him.

"Can I ask you why you left to go to New York? Why did you abandon Riverdale?" He questioned, hoping to finally get some answers to why things were they way they were.

FP sighed a little, knowing that he couldn't run away from the truth. Charles deserved to know.

"You have to understand that I was madly in love with your mother... I thought there was something going on between her and Fred and I got scared. I thought I lost her and I couldn't bear that thought." He confessed, almost feeling that same sadness of all these years ago taking over him.

"Just like Finn. He left, too." Charles said quietly, referring to the character in Southside Comics that represented his father.

"Yeah... " FP mumbled.

"Which is why I am so stuck with my work right now. Everything you've read happened at some point in our lives, I have trouble ending it in a way that will give both me and the fans satisfaction. It feels like an impossible task." FP said, feeling comfortable enough to share his struggle.

"But you came to Riverdale for the ending you say, because you wanted to live Finn's and Annie's story in real time?" Charles wondered.

"That's the gist of it, yeah." FP said.

"Then write about all that happened here in the present. Do a fast forward." Charles said simply.

FP was silent for a moment, but then realized what a brilliant idea that was. It was so easy, so right under his nose but he had failed to see it.

"You've got your brains from your mother, that is for sure." FP said playfully, smirking at him. Charles chuckled. He was glad to talk to his father, for this to develop so naturally.

"Anyway, gotta head for school now. See you soon!" Charles got up and made his way back into his bedroom to change.

"Goodluck, boy." FP called after him and for the very first time he could feel the pride that fathers felt.

**

An hour later, Alice came out of her bedroom, already changed into her clothes. She looked gorgeous, as always.

"Hey, how did you sleep?" FP asked her, believing that after the crazy two days they had that she would have trouble falling asleep.

"Under these circumstances? Actually quite okay." She said, smiling a little at him.

"Here, I just made some coffee." FP walked to the kitchen and poured her a cup.

"You're my hero." Alice gratefully took the fresh brew and sipped on it.

"Are you working on your story?" She noticed his electronic device and his folder of sketches on the dinner table.

"Yeah... Charles got me thinking." FP said, trying to find the words to day what he wanted to say.

"He told me to write about my time here in Riverdale, to use the present as a way to tie up the story of the past."

"That sounds great, you could always try that out, right?" Alice said, smiling softly. FP figured that she didn't understand what he was aiming at.

"Al... this story is about us. To finish it, I think we inevitably have to talk about our future." He said carefully, not wanting to catch her off guard.

His attempt was with no success, because Alice stood up and paced around the room with panic written all over her face.

"Please don't walk away." FP said, a sad frown on his face.

"I'm not, I am thinking." Alice said, biting her nails nervously.

FP stood up from his chair and walked over to her, hoping to calm her down.

"If I can be honest with you, I do have feelings for you. Feelings I want to explore." He said softly, her eyes meeting hers. She stopped walking and held his gaze, before swallowing hard.

"FP.... I can't look you into your eyes and tell you that there isn't part of me that doesn't have those feelings too. Of course I do." She said, her eyes glossing over.

"Should we see what is there?" He asked, hoping that she saw a future for them as well.

"I don't know. We have so much to figure out. Don't you think it will be confusing?" Alice said, her mind already spinning for him revelation. She wasn't ready for this, she thought. She was scared and she wasn't sure how to get over that.

"I want to be more than just the fantasy of your happy ending, FP. We're not your Comics. Those characters may be based on us, but they are not real. I get that you came here to create an end, to see what was left of us, but right now I am just not sure of anything." She said emotionally, knowing that this wasn't going to be easy for either of them. But FP wasn't giving up easily.

"This is about more than my story, Alice. It's about everything that has led up to this. Don't you understand that it's more than just about Comics? It's about me taking responsibility for a stupid mistake I've made when I was seventeen." FP said, his eyes shimmering.

He wanted nothing more than to make up for lost time, to show her much he did love her and how much he regretted leaving. Alice sighed.

"Look at us... we've changed a lot the past sixteen years, whether you would like to see it or not. The ending you are looking for is not as simple as creating a story the way you want it to end. This is real life. And real life is a lot less bright than the escape you've created." Alice said, trying to open his eyes to the world in front of them. She knew he was only trying, and she did wish things were that simple. But it wasn't.

"I need to be more than just some hunger for familiarity from the past." She said sadly, believing that was all she was.

"We're not those seventeen year old Serpents anymore."

"I think that is where you are wrong." FP said, determined. He wasn't stuck in the past, he was only trying to create their future.

"I need to go to the Wyrm." Alice said, giving him a sad smile. FP knew better than to follow her, but felt completely defeated.

**

He was going insane, which is why he called Fred to ask them to have dinner together. He had agreed, and so they were sitting in a booth at Pop's together, just like old times. Well, the only difference was that FP was richer than he had ever been and had exchanged his flannels for dress shirts and that Fred had become mayor, but deep down they were still the same two friends.

"I don't get it, she says she has feelings for me but she doesn't want to explore them. Is it me? Am I not trying hard enough?" FP wondered out loud, as he played with his fries. He was known for eating a lot, but his appetite had vanished.

"FP, this is Alice we're talking about. She needs her time. You can't just overwhelm her. That is only going to backfire." Fred said calmly. He knew Alice like the back of his hand and he knew that even if she had feelings, those needed time to be processed.

"Give her some time, and I am sure things will work out." Fred assured him. FP nodded a little. He hoped Fred was right.

"You really do love her, huh?" Fred questioned, smiling a little.

"With my whole heart." FP said softly.

"She might be scared, FP. You clearly aren't the same people you used to be, you've been apart for more than a decade. Maybe you need to bring a grand gesture, show her that you're serious about this." Fred said, which was the best advice he could possibly give them in this case.

"And see the bigger picture. Something important to her just got destroyed. I think figuring your relationship out isn't her priority right now, how harsh that may sound."

It had only been two days since the Wyrm had been set on fire, and all she could focus her energy on was on how to save the place that meant so much to her. Everything else needed be paused.

"You're right. I should help her out, show her that I really care." FP said, feeling confident again.

"But what kind of gesture? Isn't that a little too much like romantic comedy? It's too much like the fake reality that she thinks I am stuck in, I don't want her to think I look at us as some fairytale. I want to take her concerns seriously."

"That is something you have to figure out on your own. I can't help you with that, I'm sorry. It has to come out of your heart." Fred said, believing that whatever was going to do, would be the right thing.

Chapter Text

Charles and Alice made their way towards the Wyrm, planning another day of cleaning. With how slow they were going to felt like it would take weeks before they could even start renovating.

Before they could even let themselves think about that, there was another problem— money. She tried not to think about it, but at some point she needed to face this obstacle that was keeping her up at night.

"What about a fundraiser? A bake sale? A car wash?" Charles summed up, trying to brainstorm ideas to earn some money.

"I might help for some little renovations, but we're going to need a couple of thousands." Alice said, looking defeated. She didn't want to turn down his ideas, but they needed too much to cover easily.

"Serpents still aren't really loved in town, and Southsiders aren't particularly rich. I don't want to ask them for money." Alice said, already feeling guilty of having to ask her own to fix things. She didn't want to see that as an option.

"It might just be the end." She said sadly, taking her keys out of her pocket.

"No, it can't be! It's our home!" Charles said emotionally, stopping in his tracks. Alice swallowed. She hated seeing him like this.

"I know sweetie, but if I don't find a solution soon, we might have to close." Alice placed her hand on his shoulder and tried to remain strong, while she actually wanted to burst out in tears.

She tried to put the keys into the lock, but to her surprise the door was already open. They walked in curiously, and their eyes grew wide when she saw a bunch of people working in her bar.

Some were sweeping, some were cleaning, and other were trying to examine the damage before taking their tools to make the best of it. Everything reeked like paint and fresh wood instead of ashes, which was a nice change.

"What is going on in here?" Alice looked her eyes out, totally confused.

"We're fixing the Wyrm." FP said, as he noticed Alice and walked her way.

"But.... how...." Alice began to stutter.

"Sold my Rolex. It was the only solution until my cards are open again. I didn't like wearing it anyway and I figured that I could use the money to help fix the home of the Serpents. It was once my home too, so I know that this is way more than just a bar. It felt like it was my duty to help out." FP said, giving her a soft smile.

"So, I got the Serpents together to start fixing it together. I thought it'd be a nice way to bond, you know?" He grinned, as he looked around to the others who were working their ass off to surprise Alice with this renovation.

"You did that for me?" Alice said emotionally, tearing up as she looked right at him.

"Yeah, of course. It's you, Alice." FP said softly.

Alice smiled a little, but then suddenly she got a good look at him. The dress shirts and perfectly tailors pants were gone. Instead, he was wearing denim jeans, a cotton shirt and a flannel over it. But the one thing that she never thought she'd see again was him in a Serpent Jacket. He looked so different, and yet the same as he used to.

"Al?" He asked carefully, not sure why her face had suddenly changed.

"Your jacket..." She took another step towards him and let her fingers slide of the leather.

"You're wearing your jacket, and your flannel." She said, gripping onto it.

"You look..."

"Like myself again?" FP finished softly.

She looked up at him, confused, overwhelmed and lovingly. He took her hand into his own before he spoke.

"Alice, we may not be seventeen anymore, but I am still a Serpent by heart. The man you're looking at right now, that is me." He began sweetly, feeling like he was slowly getting back his old self again.

"A lot of things might have changed the past sixteen years, but my feelings for you certainly haven't. You're way more than my past, or the reality I've created in my work. You're my future. And from now on I will prove to you that I'm not going anywhere." He said, telling her right in front of everyone that he was staying around and willing to fight for her.

"I love you, Alice. I know you can't say it back yet. I'm not expecting you to. I just want you to know how I feel about you but that all I'm asking is for you to let me part of your life. As a friend, and as the father of your son." FP declared softly, his eyes twinkling with the love that had been there for sixteen years.

Alice wanted to be able to answer, to say something, but she froze. It was too much, too soon. She couldn't talk about this with everyone around, and so she did the only thing she could do. Alice took her hand back and ran towards the door, leaving outside.

"Al..." He said, calling behind her with a sad shimmer on his face.

"Go after her. She wants to talk to you, I'm sure." Charles said, giving him father an assuring nod. FP nodded back, trusting Charles' judgement.

"Alice?" He made his way outside and turned his head sideways, where Alice was standing against the wall, trying to comprehend what he had just told her.

"Sorry, I felt like I was choking. I didn't mean to..." Alice looked at him and immediately started to ramble her apology.

"I shouldn't have dropped that bomb on you." FP excused himself, realizing that it was a lot to process. He walked closer to her, but still at a safe distance in case it'd be too much.

"I can't believe you did all of this for me. When I woke up this morning I thought it was the end but now.... everything seems bright again. You brought that light, FP." She said, her eyes twinkling with gratefulness. He had done the unthinkable, and he didn't even want anything back in return.

"And I can't believe you're wearing your jacket." She chuckled sweetly and pulled him closer.

"Hog Eye gave me a new one. He was glad to have me back." FP smiled. It felt good to wear it again.

"I am too." She told him, genuinely. It was silent for a bit, neither of them knowing what to say now. But FP was too nervous not to say anything.

"Al, about what I said in there..." He started softly, ready to tell her that he was sorry.

"No, you don't have to apologize." She interrupted him softly.

"I've waited sixteen years to hear you say that you love me, and trust me, it makes me the happiest woman on earth that you finally told me. But..." She looked at him, and wished things were easy. She wished there hadn't been secrets between them, she wished she would've made different choices.

"It's too much, too soon. You had time to prepare yourself to face this. When you decided to come to Riverdale, you were ready. I'm not sure I am there yet. I need more time." She said quietly, hoping that he knew that this wasn't a rejection.

"I understand." He said, casting his eyes away. He would give her all the time she needed, even if it hurt.

"I do want you in my life, FP. And I do want you to be the father of our son. I want that more than anything." She said, softly tugging on his flannel so he'd look at her.

"You do?" He said, insecurely and surprised.

"Yes, of course I do." She said, smiling sweetly.

"And I think to really work on our family, you should move in with us. I know Charles would love that, too." She said, confidently. It was only the first stap to make up for the time they had missed.

"Al, there is nothing I'd rather want but I don't want you to feel forced to do anything like that. It's a big step I'm more than willing to take, but have you thought this through?" He asked her carefully, his hands hanging loosely around her waist.

"I have. I think Charles deserves it, and you do too." She stroke her hand swiftly over his cheek.

"And we are friends?" FP asked, hopeful.

"Yes, we are." Alice smiled, and he instantly pulled her close to his chest to hold her as near as he could.

**

That night, FP and Charles sat on the couch together, both having a cup of tea. It had been another crazy day, but the future of the Wyrm was bright again.

"Thank you for what you did for my Mom. That means a lot." Charles said gratefully. Without FP, it would've been a lost cause.

"It was nothing. The Serpents used to be my home too, I had to help them out." FP explained.

"Do you think you can convince her to let me become part of the gang?" He asked hopeful, thinking that maybe FP had the power to do that.

"I'll try my best, but she might rip my head off even thinking about it." FP chuckled a little.

"How young were you when you joined?" Charles asked curiously.

"Fifteen, just like your mother. We joined together, actually." He told him, smiling a little as he recalled the memory.

"But I'm sixteen, I've been asking for my jacket for ages." Charles said, suddenly getting more frustrated.

"She's just trying to protect you, boy." FP said softly, seeing why Alice wouldn't be too fond of the idea.

"From what? The Serpents are a family, what's scary about that?" Charles wondered.

"Did your mother ever tell you why she joined?" FP asked, arching his brow. Charles shook his head.

"We needed to escape. Our homes were... well, that is up to her to tell you but if I can speak for myself, I wanted to be away from my father. We needed that family more than anything. That doesn't mean it was easy to be part of a gang at such a young age. When we decided to join, it was also the first time we confessed how miserable we were. I think she's afraid that you need an escape from her."

"But you hit the jackpot with your mom, Charles." FP said softly, hoping that he would see that there was nothing for him to run away from.

"I don't need an escape from my mom. I love her with all my being. She's always been there for me. I just want to be part of the world she has created. I want to be proud. It feels like she wants to exclude me." He said, his eyes twinkling sadly.

"Maybe you should ask her again, some time. Then I'll promise to talk to her." FP promised.

As if on cue, Alice came walking out the bathroom, her hair wet from the shower. She was wearing her night outfit.

"What are you two up too?" She smiled at them.

"We were just talking about the Serpents. Maybe Charles could join some day." FP brought in carefully.

Usually, it triggered something in Alice, but this time she realized that maybe that wasn't such a crazy idea anymore.

"Maybe he could." She said, locking eyes with her son.

**

Charles had gone off to bed, leaving Alice and FP alone in the living room. Things were a little uncomfortable, considering the nights he had stayed before, he had shared the bed with her. However, after today that didn't seem like such a great plan. Things were complicated, but so far they were just friends.

"Maybe I should sleep on the couch..." FP said, already grabbing some blankets that he could find.

"Yeah, that might be better." Alice said quietly.

"Just so we won't get confused." FP said, reading her thoughts out loud.

"Goodnight, FP." Alice said softly, pecking a kiss to his cheek before leaving to the bedroom, leaving him staring at the door.

"Al?" He said. She looked behind her.

"I'm getting there." FP spoke softly. He could feel that he was slowly forgiving her for the past sixteen years, that he believed they could leave it behind.

"Me too." Alice smiled back at him. She was getting there to let her love him.

Chapter Text

Fred and FP were helping Alice organizing the Wyrm again after the disastrous fire, which seemed to be a bigger task than they'd ever realize. Fortunately, FP didn't hesitate to cover all the costs.

Usually, Alice wouldn't accept any kind of financial help, but this time she had played all her cards. It was either accepting all FP wanted to do for her and the Serpents, or giving up on her life work. She knew that what FP did came from a good place, and she'd be crazy to let her pride get in the way.

It was a peaceful afternoon, with all three of them working hard to get everything back to the way things used to be. However, whenever there was a single moment of peace it seemed that they had overseen a dark cloud coming their way. A familiar face walked into the bar, already having a smug smile plastered over his face, as if he enjoyed the destruction of the Wyrm.

"Hmm, I see you're playing happy little family?" Hal said, as he looked at Alice, Fred and FP working together as if nothing had happened.

He remembered the last night he had been there all too well. FP had no idea Charles was his and he had successfully broken something for good between the three. Or so, he thought.

"Get the fuck out of here, Hal. Or I'll throw you out." FP hissed, his anger already boiling.

"Tame your pitbull, Alice. Too weak to fight your own battles?" Hal said annoyed, looking at her.

"It's payday." He stated, when Alice didn't comment. She knew the drill by now.

Alice walked behind the counter and took the envelop of money, which she handed over full of shame. She hated that FP and Fred were there to see it.

"Thank a lot, sweetheart. See you next month." He swiftly stroke her cheek and grinned at her, enjoying the power he had. When he left, Fred turned to Alice with a confused look on his face.

"Next month? I thought it was about a car scratch? Isn't that fixed by now?" He wondered, feeling that something was off about all of this. Because of all that happened, they had forgotten about Hal.

"Al, if you need money I am more than willing to pay. No strings attached." FP said softly.

"I fixed it myself." Alice said, avoiding to look at them. But she didn't have to look at them for Fred to see that she wasn't telling the truth.

"You're lying." Fred said instantly.

"What?" Alice raised her eyebrow.

"I know you, Alice. You're lying. Tell me what has been going on." Fred said, a little softer this time.

"The real story. Not some car bullshit." He looked right at her, to tell her with one look that the lying had to stop. He was her best friend, and he was going to help her no matter how hard things were to fix.

"What does he have on you?" FP asked, growing curious now too.

He remembered talking with Fred about this, but then after all the crazy stuff that happened they both just seemed to forget for a little while.

Alice couldn't hold back her tears anymore and sniffed soundly. Fred and FP shared a look. Alice didn't cry that often, so this meant something was seriously wrong. She sat down in one of the booths, followed by Fred and FP who sat across of her.

"Hey, what is it?" Fred said softly, when he noticed that she wiped away her tears.

Alice took a breath. It was time.

"Do you remember last year when I briefly dated him?" She asked Fred.

"You dated Hal Cooper?" FP asked confused, almost a little judgemental because he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to date Hal.

"Not the point of the story." Alice said immediately, not wanting to deal with any kind of jealousy right now.

"I remember, but what about it?" Fred urged her on to continue.

Alice wasn't even sure how to get the following words out of her mouth, afraid that everything would change. She wanted to be the one to hold the power, to control everyone's perception of her, but it was time to acknowledge that maybe that was impossible. She took a breath, and finally revealed the secret she had been keeping for a year.

"One time, I got really drunk and... we had sex. He recorded us." She said quietly, looking down at the table between them.

"He what?" Fred asked in disbelief, his eyes growing wide.

"Don't let me say it again." Alice choked out, tears ready to fall.

"He has been threatening to spread the tape if I don't pay."

"So, that's what I've been doing." She said, wiping away the tears that managed to escape no matter how hard she tried to fight them.

FP stood up out of the booth, almost running out of the bar.

"Where are you going?" Fred asked confused.

"If I am fast enough, I can beat the crap out of him. If he thinks he's getting away with this he's dead wrong." FP said angrily, his nostrils flaring out of anger.

"FP, stay!" Alice exclaimed, her eyes snapping his way. He froze and his face softened.

"I don't want you to do anything. I do this my own way." She told him, a little less loud. FP walked back to the booth, trying to keep his calm.

"Al, he's blackmailing you with something awful he did to you. He should damn well be punished for that!" FP clenched his fist, his chest rising and falling rapidly because he had all this pent up anger that had nowhere to go.

"It's not that simple, FP. I wish it was." Alice said quietly.

"I can't win this." She chocked out.

As FP looked at her, he saw Alice in a way he had never seen before. She never used to back out from a fight, and now she felt defeated, she had given up.

**

Fred and FP exited the bar together, after Alice said she needed some time to be alone. They respected that decision, but when you love someone the way they love Alice, it was too difficult to sit back and do nothing.

"We're not letting him get away with this are we?" FP questioned, almost afraid to ask after his outburst. Fred had always been the calmer one out of the two of them, and right now he was just too afraid to overstep.

"Oh you bet your ass we aren't. I know where that bastard lives and we and the Serpents are going to pay him a little visit." Fred was bursting with anger. He didn't care if he was blinded by rage, he needed to protect her.

"Hal Cooper is going to regret ever taking advantage of her." He said, looking FP right into the eye. And for the first time, FP could see that Fred was going to do something he had never done before.

**

The rest of the night passed by as blur. Fred had gathered the Serpents, telling them that they had to defend their Queen, no questions asked. So, that's what they did. Alice was there for them, and this was their time to pay her back for all she does. Nobody knew why, but they trusted Fred enough to know that this was serious.

FP had thought of a plan, which were orders they followed. If one thing was clear, it was that this were two men who were trying to get justice for someone they really love. That was something they just couldn't question. Serpents take care of their own and they'd prove that tonight.

That night, Hal became overpowered in his own home, without having realized what was going on. There were so many people at once, that he could only comprehend what happened when he was tied to one of his own chairs, with FP hovering over him with a dangerous frown on his face.

"What do you want from me?" Hal spat angrily. He wasn't afraid of FP, or any of the other people in his living room. He believed he had the upperhand.

"You know damn well what." FP grabbed his collar and brought his own face impossibly close to Hal's.

"You're going to destroy the tape and every fucking copy you have of it. I'll shove it down your throat if I have to." He hissed.

"Or what else?" Hal said, smugly.

"I'll promise you I'll make your life a living hell. You won't be able to walk in the streets without looking over your shoulder."

"Is that a threat, Jones?"

"I would like to call it a promise." FP gave him a warning look.

"Did you find something?" He turned over his shoulder to look at Fred and the Serpents, who were looking through every single cabinet to find what they came from.

"Fucking hell...." Fred mumbled under his breath, when he opened one of the drawers.

"What?" FP questioned.

"Alice was just the tip of the iceberg. Look at this."

Fred gestured for him to come closer, revealing a full drawer of private pictures and tapes with names on them, revealing that Alice wasn't the only one to be blackmailed. It seemed to be almost every woman in Riverdale.

The drawer full of pictures and tapes made something snap inside of FP. Blinded by rage, he rushed over to Hal, and bawled his fist. He barely even noticed what he did next.

He had so much pent up anger and energy, that didn't seem to be controllable anymore after what he had seen. Hal was the center of his anger, and so punch after punch followed on his face. Blood spat out of his mouth as FP kept on hitting him, but with is arms tied to the chair, he was at his mercy.

"FP! You're gonna kill him!" Fred immediately pulled back FP, who seemed to be brought back to earth when he heard Fred's voice.

"He doesn't deserve life on earth. Even the eternal flames of hell are too good for him." FP said, looking at a defeated Hal.

"Are you proud of yourself, Hal?" Fred asked, when he had eye-contact with him. Hal remained silent. He had nothing left to say.

"We're burning this." He turned back to the drawer and took a bag to put it in, so they could find a safe place to make sure all of it would disappear for good.

"Shouldn't we go to the police?" FP questioned, a little confused.

"No. It's impossible to win cases like this." Fred said, knowing very well that the cops would do nothing. However, FP thought of a compromise. They couldn't take these women's choice away the way Hal had done.

"Keep the copies. It's not our choice, Fred. These women need to decide if they want to sue him or not. We can bring those to the police." He told him, hoping that he'd see that would be best for everyone.

"You're going to jail for assault, Jones." Hal spat out the blood from his mouth. But FP wasn't afraid of him.

"You know in your heart that you deserve it, Cooper. Who do you think they'll believe? A women aggressor or the town's beloved mayor and a successful artist?" He stated with a knowing look. Hal turned away.

"I thought so." FP mumbled, keeping an eye on him to make sure he wouldn't do anything crazy.

"Call the police." He said to Fred. If they had to pay the consequences, it was worth it.

**

The following morning, Alice had been nervously pacing around the Wyrm. FP hadn't come home last night, and she hadn't been able to reach Fred. Her gut told her that something was terribly wrong, even though she didn't want to be right about that.

When the door squeaked open, revealing Fred and FP, Alice sighed in relief. However, she was furious, too.

"Where they hell have you been?!" She exclaimed loudly, demanding an explanation.

"We might have been in jail." FP said a little sheepishly.

They were lucky it was only one night, because for the first time they seemed to be lucky to know the Sheriff. With Fred being the mayor, he had been fortunate enough for this not to be a bigger thing, or he could've lost his job.

"Maybe you should read this morning's paper." Fred said, feeling a little ashamed.

He handed it over to her, and Alice frowned, before reading the explanation she had been asking for.

"You did what?! You went to assault Hal?!" She spat angrily, as she read the article that had been printed this morning, right after the rumors had been spread.

"We did what we had to do, Alice. Did you know that he's blackmailing tons of women in town?" FP tried to defend them, but by doing so he totally missed the point.

"You don't understand! You're two men! You will never get how it is for a woman to have something like that out there!" Alice snapped, and her throat tightened thinking of what might happen next.

"I told you I would do it my way, but you refused to listen. I've made it very clear that I wanted both of you to stay out of it. I've handled it the way I wanted to the past year. If I would have wanted for the Serpents to raid his place, then I could have asked that myself."

"But no. The second I tell two men about a tape that is about me, they think it's their job to play the hero. This is not one of your Comics, FP! I'm not a princess and you don't need to slay the dragon. Do you have any idea what you have risked?! That tape could be out there. right now. This wasn't your battle to fight."

**

Alice had stormed off to home, leaving FP and Fred in the Wyrm with a deep guilt. They had done the wrong thing, purely because they were blinded to see what the consequences could be. How could they possibly make up for that?

FP had eventually gone back home, almost too afraid to go into the apartment. Alice was sitting on the couch, doing laundry. It was a nice distraction. She looked up when she heard the door, but instead of freaking out, she just looked at him.

"If you need some space, I could sleep at Fred's tonight." FP said softly.

Alice sighed. She didn't want him gone, it was never about that.

"I did it for Charles." She said quietly.

FP raised his eyebrow a little confused. What did she mean by that? He walked over to the couch and sat next to her on the couch, assuming that would be okay.

"I'd be devastated if that tape ever got out but I'd survive. I always do." She gave him a sad smile.

"I didn't want him to become the victim too, if people would see it. He shouldn't have to suffer because of a mistake I made."

"Al, he had no right to record you. This is not on you. It was never on you." He took her hand instinctively, and for some reason she appreciated the warmth that gave her, even if she was mad.

"That's sweet of you to say, but that is not reality, FP. It doesn't matter if I consented to this or not... if it would come out, it's me who they are going to talk about. Not about Hal. It's going to be seen as my mistake, not as Hal's crime. And though I wish things would be different, I can't fight that battle on my own. I'm the Serpent Queen, FP. My reputation makes it impossible to change the narrative."

"Alice, you're not alone. I now understand that what Fred and I did was reckless, and I regret not thinking about that earlier. But I don't regret standing up for you." He told her softly, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

"You said to me that I wasn't alone. That it mattered. And you're right, it does matter. That's why I did it."

"And I'll be sorry forever if that has brought you, or Charles, in any kind of danger." FP knew that he had crossed a line and he'd feel guilty about that till the end of times.

"From now on I promise you that we're in this battle with you. The way you want to fight it, not the way I, or Fred, think is right."

"Thank you." She said, giving him a soft smile.

"What you said this morning... there were more women? It wasn't just me?" Alice wondered, though her stomach already twisted thinking about it.

"No... we found tons of evidence. We destroyed the originals but brought the copies towards the police. So every single woman has a choice whether to press charges or not."

She could feel the tears well up in her eyes, and before she knew it she was crying for all these women and all their pain. FP pulled her close to his chest, shushing her as softly as he possibly could. He'd hold her for as long as she wished.

**

The following night, Alice decided it was best to pay Fred a visit. She knew that she wouldn't approach her as long as he believed she was mad. Truthfully, she knew that something must've had hit him really hard, for Fred to so something so reckless. Besides, she couldn't live without her best friends for longer than a day. She already missed him.

She let herself in with her spare key and made her way into his home. He was working on his laptop, which he closed slowly when he noticed Alice standing in his living room.

"It's not like you to do something like that." She said quietly, as she walked over to Fred to take sit across off him.

"I realize that. But you're not just anybody, Alice. We've been at each other's side for so long..." Fred shook his head a little confused, as if it was too much for him to process all at once.

"I understand why you haven't told me, but when you did... I've never been this angry before. I think I got blinded by it. All I wanted was for Hal to pay, to suffer for all that he did to you."

"Did you ever get blinded by anger that you couldn't think straight anymore? Because I did, and it was scary. I had no control over myself. I love you too much to see anyone hurting you and it breaks my heart that you've been hurting for the past year and that I wasn't able to protect you, to be the friend you needed."

"And I know loving you is a bad excuse for what we did. We had no right ignoring your wishes." Fred took her hand into his own, telling her with this touch that he truly felt sorry.

"But I know you, Alice. You want to fight every battle by yourself. And I do believe that we as men, have a responsibility towards one another to hold each other accountable. Isn't that what we should do?" He questioned sweet and innocently.

"Your heart is in the right place, Fred. I know that." She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.

"And I think you are right. I do need you. I can't fight it alone, and honestly I don't want to fight it alone."

"But I do want my best friend next to me."

Chapter Text

"Hello? FP?" Charles called his name for the third time that morning, until he was finally being heard.

"Hmm?" FP looked a little bewildered from his chair behind the dinnertable.

"I called your name. You didn't hear me." Charles chuckled a little, grabbed a chair and sat down next to him.

"What are you looking at?" He wondered curious, seeing something in his hand. It was a childhood picture that he could recognize.

"Hey, that is me!" He chirped happily, seeing himself as a seven year old on the playground.

"Your Mom gave them to me so I could look at 'em." FP smiled a little, while taking another pile to look through.

Alice had boxes full of pictures, all neatly organized. Charles took a few too, to browse through them. It had been a long time since he had taken a look at these memories.

"This was when we went to the waterpark. We couldn't afford going on a vacation so Fred took us to cheer me up." He showed one to his father, where Alice was going off the slide with a six year old Charles on her lap. He looked incredibly happy.

"And this was when I learned to ride my bike." He picked another that he showed proudly. It brought back some of his happiest memories.

"It's nice to see this." FP said quietly. Charles could hear that there was something behind his words. It worried him.

"What is going on?" He asked him softly, hoping that his father felt comfortable enough to open up.

"I missed all of this." FP croaked out, suddenly all too aware of how all these memories were without him.

"I should be in these pictures." He turned to face Charles with tears in his eyes, suddenly all of it hitting Charles like a ton of bricks as well.

"I wish you were, too." He said him, casting his eyes away.

"Did you know I always made up stories about you in my head?" He wondered, his eyes suddenly twinkling again. FP might not be in his childhood pictures, but he did have other memories that did involve him.

"I even made some. Wait here." Charles ran off into his bedroom, before returning barely a minute later with a shoebox in his hand. When he opened it, he revealed drawings he had made as a kid.

"Look... here you are a superhero. Oh, and one as a firefighter. I always thought that was pretty cool." He showed what he had created to his father when he was just a little boy, all involving his Dad as someone he looked up to, someone special.

"You like to draw?" FP's eyes started to gleam.

"As a kid I did, yeah... kinda forgot about it. Maybe you could teach me, sometime?" He asked, hopeful that this was something they could bond over.

"Yes, of course. I would love that." FP smiled softly. Maybe they did have something special in common, even after years apart.

"Can't believe you thought about me all these years." He looked down at the cute drawings he had made, almost shedding a tear as he thought about how Charles somehow had always longed for him.

"I think the idea of you saving the world made it easier to accept you weren't there. At some point I was too old to believe those stories, but it didn't make me any less proud."

He smiled a little. Throughout the years, he came to learn the truth more and more, but somewhere deep down he always believed his Dad was making the world a better place.

"Turned out, you still changed the world. At least, you did for me. Your work has been there for me many times." He told him softly, referring to Southside Comics that had meant the world to him growing up.

"See, I'm holding one here." He showed another picture, one that Alice had taken as the little boy was concentrated on the Comic.

"Your Mom and you are really close, huh?" FP wondered out loud.

"Yeah, she is everything to me. She has always been both my mother and father. That must have been hard for her, even at times where I had no idea how much she was doing for me." Sometimes he forget how much his mother did for him, especially when she had to do all of it by herself.

"Please don't be mad at her. I feel as much as you that it's unfair that we missed out on these sixteen years, but she gave me everything she could." Charles looked at his father with a pleading look.

He could understand how frustrated and angry he was, but he just wished for everything to be alright.

"I know that, boy." FP said, giving him an assuring smile. He had let go of that anger, it wasn't going to get them anywhere.

"Not being in your childhood pictures hurts me more than I could possibly explain to you, but from now on I promise I'll be in every other picture." He said, determined. Charles smiled. He wanted that, too.

FP took another pile of pictures and browsed through it, smiling to himself. He looked so happy and carefree, making him wonder if maybe not having him in his life wasn't so bad.

"It's hard, Charles." FP croaked.

"You think being my father is hard?" Charles asked, insecure, afraid and hurt. FP's eyes immediately looked up at his son.

"What? No. That is not what I meant." He cleared up instantly. Charles' shoulders relaxed a little.

"For the last ten years, I've been in this miserable marriage that took every single ounce of my energy, my dignity and my soul. Instead, I could have had the life I always dreamed of. A family, with the woman I love." He said, telling him that this is all he had ever wanted.

"It's not fair to you, or to me." Charles said, feeling a lump in his throat.

"I know it's not fair. But if we fight for this, I know that we can make up for the time we lost. I want that." FP said, determined to get close to him as much as he could. They both deserved that.

"If you and Mom fight again... will that change things? Would you go if that happens?"

Charles had been wondering this ever since he knew about the identity of his father, somehow feeling that if they wouldn't let the past behind, that it could stand in between them getting closer.

"It won't. Nothing is ever going to keep me away from you, no matter what happens between me and Alice." FP told him assuringly.

He loved Alice, he really did, but even if they would end up hating each other one day, he'd always love Charles.

"I'm sorry you have been in such a bad marriage." Charles wished his father wouldn't be hurt as much as he did, it didn't feel like he had ever deserved that.

"Me too. One day I'll explain you everything, because I don't think I am ready for that now. But I promise, if I got the chance to make a different choice, I would have stayed."

Charles smiled. He believed those words, how surreal they might sound. Knowing that they wouldn't miss out anymore gave him trust in the future.

"Hey, I am not busy right now... what about you teach me some of your tricks? I would love to draw again."

**

Alice came home at the end of the day, smiling when she saw Charles and FP at the dinner table together. It was a precious sight, something she has tried to imagine for the past sixteen years. But now she had the real thing.

"What are guys doing?" She asked them, peeking over to what was in front of them.

"FP is learning me how to draw. What do you think?" He proudly held up his sketchbook.

"As talented as your father." Alice smiled brightly. It was no surprise he inherited that from FP.

However, it wasn't his newest work that caught her attention. It were what he made as a young boy that made her eyes well up.

"These are your old drawings..." She took the one of FP as a superhero in her hands and smiled at it. She remembered when he showed it to her.

"Pretty accurate, don't you think?" Charles smirked, before looking at his dad.

"Absolutely." Alice locked eyes with FP and gave him a soft smile.

"Maybe we could do something with the three of us? A boardgame, maybe?" FP proposed, wanting to include Alice in family time as well. In the end, that is what he wanted. To be a family.

"You want to play a game with my mother? That big sore loser?" Charles laughed.

"Hey!" Alice exclaimed, faux offended.

"Maybe I'll let her win." FP grinned cheekily.

"Now I am aiming for last place." Alice said, grinning as well.

"Oh, you think you're worse than me?" FP challenged her, the corner of his lips curling into his signature smirk.

It made her stomach flutter, which is something she tried to push away. Instead, she looked at Charles who was smiling from ear to ear.

"What are you smiling? Do you think this complot against me is funny?" Alice teased.

"Nothing. I am just happy." He said, feeling his heart burst with happiness that he had such loving parents.

**

After midnight, Charles had been too tied to go on and eventually made his way to bed. It left Alice and FP cleaning up, with only a few small lamps creating a shimmer.

"Tonight was fun. Too bad you won." FP said, poking her side a little before taking their glasses to the small kitchen.

"I am a winner, FP. You should know." Alice gloated, making him chuckle.

"Well, I'll go to sleep on the loser's couch." He sighed exaggeratedly and let himself fall into the pull-out.

"Oh, so now my pull-out isn't good enough for you?" Alice teased, playing along as she let herself fall onto the couch next to him.

"I had at least expected for you to have bought me a King size bed." FP said, smirking slightly.

"Prove you are worth it and I'll consider it." Alice said, crossing her arms sassily. He chuckled while he gathered his blankets.

"Don't you miss it?" She asked softly. FP looked at her confused.

"Your fancy apartment? Your luxury lifestyle?" Alice cleared up.

"Not for a single second." He answered in a heartbeat.

"This life here with you, Charles and Fred... it's so much better. I'd give up every single penny I have to be here." He said softly.

Alice smiled, feeling her heart race in her test. She had dreamed of having him next to her for so long, that to felt surreal that he was actually right there, telling her that he'd give up anything for the life she thought he didn't want.

"But I do expect smoked salmon at breakfast tomorrow." He teased, making her giggle.

"You are ruining our moment!" She playfully swatted his chest.

"We had a moment? Shit, should have known when to kiss you." FP smirked, while letting his head fall against the couch.

"Is it still there?" He questioned, teasing her a little. Alice shook her head in amusement.

"Goodnight, FP." She grinned and stroke his cheek, leaving him lovestruck in the living room all by himself.

Chapter Text

Fred finally turned off his computer when Alice came walking in his office, with a take-out bag in her hand. He smiled brightly upon seeing his friend. The last few weeks had been tough, so seeing a warm familiar face was all he needed.

"It's nice if you to come have lunch with me. Sorry that I've been so busy." He excused himself a little ashamed.

Of course he had always time for her, nothing was too much when it came to Alice, but he wished he saw her a little bit more often.

"Well, a town doesn't lead itself now, does it?" Alice smiled. She would never hold it against him for not having time, when his job came with a lot of pressure.

"I promise to make more time for you soon." He gave her a warm smile.

"How are you, Alice? Really." Fred had to ask, especially since the last few months had been crazy.

"I mean, we haven't really talked about the Hal thing. Are you going to report him?" Fred was almost afraid to ask, but he wondered if she has thought through any kind of plan to stand up against a vile man like Hal.

"I am, even though I am not sure if it will work. It doesn't feel like enough." Alice put down her fries again. The thought of him made her appetite vanish.

"Busting his ass to the cops still isn't going to change anything, you know? The problem is way bigger than just Hal."

"I wish I could make a real change. But that's just a fantasy, I guess. Being a woman just sucks at times." Alice tried to play it cool, but Fred knew her well enough to see that she was suffering.

"Alice, if you really want to do something, you should go for it. You know I've got your back, together we can make more possible than you think." He encouraged her, hoping that she'd know that he would support her in anything. He was ready for the fight, just as he promised.

"But what then? I can't change the world, Fred." Alice looked defeated.

"Start smaller. Like with this town. What is that you want?" Fred asked, which was the first time she could actually put into words what she wanted to achieve.

"For women to know that they are not alone, like I thought I was. I believed I could handle it on my own, but it was lonely. Very lonely." She said quietly.

If she could make the difference for just one woman, she'd be more than happy. It would never feel like enough, but in a fight as hard as this one she needed to take baby steps.

"Create a support group, talk to principal Wheaterbee to get a mandatory class on sexual harassment and consent. Educate teenagers." Fred proposed. It could be a start.

"That's actually a great idea. Make a change in the younger generation." Alice's eyes started to beam with hope again.

"Exactly." Fred smiled at her.

"And you will help me with that?" She asked, needing him more than anything.

"Always. Whatever you need, I'll be there as much as I can." He took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Alice smiled back, feeling more and more grateful every single day that she had a friend like Fred.

Her phone rang, telling her that she had a message. She took a quick glance, believing it could wait until she saw that it was her bank. Her eyes grew wide, and she took her hand back to grab her phone.

"What is it?" Fred asked worried, sensing that something was off.

"I have to go." Alice's eyes were glued to her phone and she stood up instantly, ready to make her way out of City Hall.

"You look mad." He said.

"Oh you bet your ass I am." Alice was furious.

"I'll call you tonight." She said quickly, before rushing out.

**

She stormed into her apartment, holding her phone up for FP to see, who had been sitting at the dinner table, working.

"What the hell is this?!" She raised her voice angrily and shoved her phone onto the table for him to see what she was talking about.

FP blinked twice, and then saw the notification she got from her bank. Why would she be mad about that?

"Why do you think giving Charles ten thousand dollars in his savings account without even consulting me was the right move?!" Alice was almost blinded by her own rage, but this was just simply something she couldn't look past. He had some serious explaining to do.

"So I want to support my son financially, what's the big deal?" FP said, both a little confused and insulted that she was suddenly screaming at him.

"Are you freaking kidding me? Everything about this is a big deal." Alice said, growing even more frustrated with him.

She turned around, trying to keep her calm. FP stood up from his chair and tried to read her body language, but he failed to do so. Alice turned back to him, her eyes still spitting fire.

"I bust my ass off to give him everything he wants, to make him not miss out on anything. Do you know how much it hurt every single time I had to disappoint him? To tell him that he couldn't get new sneakers even if he needed them? Or that we couldn't go on fancy holidays like his classmates? It broke my heart time after time, FP."

Her voice had cracked, betraying that behind her anger was a ton of hurt that she failed to hide, no matter how much she tried.

"And I give him what I busted my ass off for. This is the least I owe him!" FP exclaimed, feeling that he needed to defend himself. He wasn't going to be painted as the bad guy.

"You don't owe him anything! Do you know how insulting this is?" Alice said, on the verge of bursting into anger again.

"Is this your way of telling me that I am not a good Mom because I don't have that much money? That I didn't give him enough all these years?" She asked so quietly that he could barely hear her.

"Of course not!" FP said immediately, believing it was crazy that she even thought that.

"Then why did you do it?!" She yelled back at him, demanding an explanation action.

"Because it's all I have to offer, don't you see!" FP shouted back, rendering her silent.

Alice's face softened. Did he really believe that?

"What?" She said, confused.

"My money is all I have. I am a worthless parent, I don't know what to do, what to say, how to act." FP casted his eyes away, afraid that if she would look him into his eyes that she could see that he was right.

"He speaks the world of you Alice, rightfully so. But I had to do something to show him that I am serious about this family." FP said softly, hoping that she could see that he would never have any bad intentions.

"Money is the only way I can show him. The only way I can even try to make up for the time I've missed." FP's lip quivered slightly.

"I'm sorry for yelling." Alice said, realizing that maybe she had judged him a little too soon.

"A stable financial situation is something I couldn't give him for a very long time. Sometimes it's still hard not to get behind. I've always felt like I failed as a parent because of that. It brought up my insecurities and that wasn't fair." Alice walked over to him and held his waist, while his hands slid around hers as well. It felt good to have each other close.

"I should have asked you first. It's just that... the love and devotion you have given him, is something I couldn't. I thought that this way I could make things right again. That was insensitive of me." He said, giving her an apologetic smile. He wished he would've thought it through.

"I understand." She said quietly.

"But FP... if you want this to work, you have to stop feeling like you owe him anything. You needed to feel like you're even, otherwise you are always going to blame yourself." Alice placed his hand on his cheek, making sure that he could understand what she was trying to say to him.

"I'm going to try." He promised.

"I am sorry." FP hugged her closely.

"Me too." She answered, enjoying having him close for a little while.

**

It was around one in the morning when Charles heard his bedroom door open. He fluttered his lashes and saw through the little bit of light that it was his mother, who climbed into bed next to him without a word.

"What are you doing here?" Charles asked groggily.

"I can't sleep." Alice whispered.

When Charles was young, he always used to climb into his mother's bed when he couldn't and it seemed like she was returning that right now.

"So you thought let's wake up my son?" Charles groaned, but couldn't help but smile at his mother when he realized why she was really here.

"I know what's going on..." He turned onto his side and smirked.

"What?" Alice asked confused.

"You here or otherwise you'd go to FP." Charles told her, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly.

"That is ridiculous," Alice defended immediately.

"Come on, Mom. I can read you like a book, don't even try to lie to me." He playfully pushed her, finding this all too amusing.

"Tell me, do you have a little crush?" He asked, wanting to know every little detail.

"I am not crushing on your Dad." Alice said, trying to sound convincing.

"Liar." Charles answered immediately.

"Hey! I came here to talk with you, to catch up like old times. Nothing more." Alice said, letting him remember how he used to chat her ear off when he was the one who couldn't sleep.

"Sure, we can talk." Charles said.

"Tell me about your little crush." He smirked.

"You really are as annoying as your father." Alice softly swatted his chest, but couldn't help a smirk tugging on the corner of her lips. Maybe Charles was more right than she would like to admit.

Chapter Text

"So, what do you think?"

Alice had handed over the papers to FP, where she had written down all that she wanted to achieve in their town. It were still only words, but it was supposed to change to lives for women in Riverdale.

"Your plans sound great, Alice. This might mean more to Hal's survivors and every other woman in Riverdale than you know." FP had read every single thing, feeling more and more proud every single day.

"I hope it will. We need to stick together, don't you think? I want to start the community that I missed so much." Alice's eyes sparked with hope. FP wished for that to never vanish.

"Look, Fred is helping me searching for a venue like the Wyrm for us to come together. We hope we can get this one." She took another map and showed him the pictures of what once used to be a club, which she wanted to turn into a sweet cafe.

"An own place, that's amazing! Is there anything I could help with?" FP asked, wanting to be able to contribute to what she wished to achieve.

"Actually there is..." Alice nervously bit her bottom lip. She was afraid to ask him, considering how touchy this subject was to him.

"I've been to Waldo Wheaterbee, principal at Riverdale High to ask him about any classes in extension of the biology and social classes about sexuality, with a main focus on sexual harassment and consent."

"He agreed, on the premises that first we come up with a plan to organize a day at the school on Sex Ed week." Alice told him.

"But what I can do for that?" FP asked confused. He didn't really consider himself a teacher.

"I hope you will come to speak, too. I don't want this program just to be about my own expierence." She said, soft but quietly.

"I know that I am asking a lot from you, but will you please think about?" She took his hand into her own, but he quickly took it back.

"I never want to think about Gladys again." FP said, the crack in his voice betraying how it still hurt him.

"Okay. That's fine, don't worry about it." Alice said softly, giving him a sweet smile to tell him that it was more than fine.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"You don't have to apologize. I am sorry I brought it up." She said.

"But... if you need some help with renovating the veneu, you know I am good at that." FP dared to look at her again.

"I could use your muscles." Alice smiled back at him. She knew he had her back in any way that he possibly could.

**

It had been some time since FP last called his best friend. There had happened so many life changing things, that he could barely find the right words to explain it all.

All he knew was that he couldn't wait to see her again and tell her every single thing that had happened to him and this town during his stay. To a stranger it might sound unbelievable, but Hermione knew he would never lie to her.

"Still enjoying yourself in Riverdale? We're missing you out here." Hermione smiled at the other side of the line. She was glad FP called her.

"You missed a lot, Mione. You have no idea." FP said, shaking his head a little in disbelief.

Where to start? The fact that he had a son? That Fred and Alice never used to date? That his wife tried to murder him? That Hal Cooper was a creep just like they thought in high school?

"Tell me, juicy gossip?" Hermione teased, not having any clue what FP was about to reveal.

"Sorta, yeah. I have a son." He said, smiling brightly. He had never said those words out loud to anyone. A son. He was a father.

"You what?" Hermione almost choked on her breath.

"The boy I thought was Fred's? Turns out he is mine. He and Alice aren't together, never have been." He explained, which was the shortest story of how he found it. He would tell her the details later.

"FP, that is huge!" Hermione said, still it utter disbelief over the news.

"That Fred's single, I know! Totally crazy." FP said, grinning.

"I meant that you have a son out there, but yes, that too." Hermione said, suddenly getting shy.

She had always believed Fred was with Alice too, so hearing that he wasn't suddenly felt like her blindfold was being taken off so she could see the real thing.

"How about you stop by soon? I've got so much to show you." FP wanted nothing more than to tell her exactly what happened.

She had told him for years to break free from Gladys, and he knew that Hermione was going to be proud to hear that he finally did.

"I am stomped with work here, I wish I could but..." Hermione sighed. Of course she wanted to come visit him, but she wasn't sure how to.

"What if I tell you Alice is about to show interest in your real estate?" FP said.

"She's what?" Hermione arched an confused eyebrow.

"You could send one of your employees, or you could come close the deal yourself." FP said k knowingly, hoping that it would be the latter.

**

Around one the morning, FP had gotten off the couch to walk into the kitchen. A grumbling stomach had woken him up, telling him to eat something.

Sometimes he hated how his body dictated what he wanted, but if didn't eat anything now, he knew he couldn't fall asleep without the imagine of a peanut butter sandwich on his mind.

"You're still getting those midnight snacks?" A voice softly called from behind him.

Alice had gotten out of bed too, unable to sleep. She figured that a cup of tea could help her, but she hadn't expected for FP to be up at this time. It was dark, but he could recognize her anywhere.

"Yeah, old habits die hard. I am starving." He said, gesturing to the sandwich he was making.

"What are you doing up? Couldn't you sleep?" He asked her curiously, hoping that it was nothing bad that was keeping her up.

"My good old friend insomnia." She said, giving him a small smile.

Alice wished she could share all that was keeping her up, but for now she wanted for that to be her own secret. Maybe anything she'd tell him would ruin the thing that was there between them, which was something she simply didn't want to risk. But wasn't the risk something that always kept them apart?

"But I was thinking about us, too." She said quietly, trying to catch his eyes in the small shimmer of light.

"In a good way?" He asked, putting down the knife covered in peanut butter. His heart was racing in his chest, making his appetite disappear.

"Yes, in a good way." Alice said sweetly, giving him a smile.

FP felt his shoulders relax. He was scared that she had changed her mind, that maybe she didn't want to have him around anymore.

"Last night I slept in Charles' room. He said it was because otherwise I would have gone to you." Alice said knowingly, trying to read the change in his facial features as she looked at him.

"And would that have been a bad thing?" He asked quietly, taking a step closer into her direction. Alice followed his lead, her breath hitching as she noticed how close he was.

"No, I don't think so." She whispered.

FP looked into her eyes, before letting them flicker down to her lips. They both knew what was about to happen, but neither of them seemed to care that it was in the middle of the night, or that they had so many things to talk about. Right now, it needed to be about them, about the longing, about not being able to resist the urge to touch each other.

FP's arms snaked around her waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck and neither of them hesitated when they leant in to kiss each other hungrily.

Her frame was so tiny compared to his, and he loved how he could hold his whole world into his arms so tightly, that it made him feel like he could protect her from all the evil in the world as long as he was there.

Alice tickled the hairs in the base of his neck as she felt his tongue dancing with her own, a feeling so familiar and yet so new and exciting.

She felt her whole body tingle as his hands held her so immensely tight, that she couldn't help but press herself even closer into his chest in the need to never let go.

FP took the hint and let his hands travel from her waist, over her ass, to her thighs. He broke their kiss to get some air and looked at her intensely when he hoisted her up, letting her wrap her legs around his waist.

He groaned in pleasure when she felt her grinding down onto his growing erection, which he repaid by squeezing her butt. She always looked gorgeous, but Alice in nothing but a long shirt and her hair in a messy ponytail was absolutely driving him wild. And it was all for him to have.

He busied himself with pressing soft kisses into her neck while he carried her towards her bedroom, feeling himself getting more and more aroused when she softly moaned into his ear.

FP carefully laid her down onto the mattress, more so because he didn't want to wake anyone. If they had the choice, they wouldn't give a care in the world who would hear them.

FP pushed himself up a little to take of his shirt and his bottoms, leaving him in nothing but his boxers. Alice pushed herself up on her elbows and smirked and she gestured with her fingers for him to come closer.

He crawled up the bed again and kissed her hungrily. His hands tugged on her shirt, hinting for her to take it off. Alice had to break the kiss and grinned when she saw the dazed look on his face while he tried to chase her lips.

She reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, showing her bare chest right in front of his eyes.

FP smirked. She was an absolute Goddess in his eyes. Tonight, he would show her exactly how much he worships her. His lips attached to her collarbone, to suck in tiny little hickeys, just enough to show, but small enough to fade quickly. But he didn't stay there for long, as he moved his red kisses lips towards the swell of her breast, pressing sweet little kisses over and over again.

He took her by surprise when he took her right nipple between his lips, teasing it oh so lightly with his tongue, playing with the nipple piercing there, while his twisted the other between his thumb and index finger. A moan managed to escape her mouth, which is why FP's hands quickly covered her mouth.

"We gotta be quiet..." He said, before taking his hand away to press a soft kiss on her lips.

But just when Alice thought be was about to deepen their kiss, he started to create a path of sweet little kisses down her body, starting between her breasts, down to her stomach, belly button, and thighs. He carefully spread her legs open, teasing with nipping kisses on the soft skin.

FP hooked his fingers into her panties and dragged it down her legs teasingly slow while looking directly at her.

He knew Alice had always been impatient, so watching her waiting for the real thing when she couldn't make a sound was way too amusing. He knew she'd punish him for that later, but he wouldn't mind one bit.

He settled comfortably before losing his head down between her thighs, feeling her legs twitch immediately when he softly licked her folds.

FP wanted to take his time with her, to really map out the feeling that he had missed for so long. He felt a hand tangling in his dark locks, and by the way he he could hear her try muffle her own shallow breaths he knew that she was loving every single second of this.

He quickened his pace as he let his tongue fully focus on her clit and let his eyes look up at her ever so innocently. With her hand in her hair she demanded more of him, faster and harder. FP took the hint quite well, as he sucked down on her clit, knowing it would do the trick for her.

Her legs started to shake, and FP took everything she had to offer him, knowing that he might not get the chance again. He closed his eyes as he worked her through her orgasm, thinking of how hot, beautiful and perfect this moment was.

"Please tell me we are going to do that again." Alice said dazed, smiling as they made eye contact.

"Anytime you want." FP whispered lustfully.

He slowly crawled up her body again and kissed her while she tried catching her breath. She smiled at him as she let her nails rail over his cheeks, wanting nothing more to have all of him.

One hand slid down to his boxers and pulled it down just enough for his cock to be free. Even in the dark she could see how told hard he was, all because of her.

She wrapped her hand around his dick and slowly pumped it up and down, watching as his eyes fell shut, being too focused on the sparks she send through his body.

Even after all these years, she just knew exactly what to do, how to touch him. He let her go on for a moment, before he leaned back to pull of his boxes completely.

Alice cupped his cheeks, wanting for him to look at her.

"Do you want to?" She asked, needing to hear it from him, verbally. He knew why she asked, and he loved her even more for it.

"Yes. I want to. Do you?" He nudged his nose against hers, wanting to kiss her breathless— but not before she answered.

"I do," She whispered with a smile, being his que to kiss her again, taking them both with him into not only a lustful urge, but some deeper romantic feelings as well.

**

The morning sun shining through the curtain of her bedroom is what eventually woke the two up, with the feeling of a warm body next to them that just felt so perfectly right.

FP had slept next to someone for the past sixteen years, but it had always felt like he was sharing the bed with a stranger. With Alice next to him, those days were gone. This felt right, the way it was supposed to be.

He turned on his side as his eyes fluttered open and looked straight at Alice, who was waking up out of her slumber too. She didn't have a stitch of make-up on and her hair was a big mess, but she absolutely took his breath away. There was nothing more stunning than seeing her smile at him the way she was doing right now.

"Hey, friend..." FP said quietly, smirking as he looked at her. His hand reached up to tickle her bare arm.

"Hi, friend..." Alice smiled, not being able to stop looking at him.

He looked a little tired, and she could see in his eyes that he had years of hurt hidden away, but that underneath it all he was simply happy in this very moment.

"Last night was nice. Are you okay?" FP asked carefully, hoping that regret wasn't making an awful appearance.

"I think I am more okay than I've ever been." She said sweetly, as she scooted over closer to his body to be able to wrap herself in his body's warmth.

FP smiled to himself and leant in to peck a soft kiss on her lips, the first of many.

"Kissing you is still so addicting." FP groaned quietly, wanting nothing more than to stay in bed all day and kiss her breathless.

Alice giggled, as her hand reached up to let her finger trace his stubble.

"FP?" She said softly.

He looked into her eyes, asking her without words what she was trying to say. Alice sat up straight, a lead he followed immediately. He was afraid for what was about to come, assuming that it couldn't be good. But then, she spoke the following words.

"Do you want to give us a try? See where this is going?" She asked him, insecurely.

"You want that?" He asked, afraid he might misunderstood.

FP took her hand into his own, a fit that was still so perfect, like their hands had no purpose but to hold each other. He knew this was the real thing, and he wasn't going to lose it again.

"I really do. Are you ready for that?" Alice said, not wanting to rush him into anything. She knew that their relationship was fragile and she didn't want to be the one to break it.

"Al, if you're in, I'm too. I want nothing more than to be with you. You know I love you." He let his hand linger on her cheek, wanting to tell her how much he had thought of her the past sixteen years, of how he was convinced she was his soulmate. But he didn't. Not yet.

"Even after what I've done to you?" Alice's voice cracked, betraying how scared she was of all that was yet to come, of all that might be too much to get past.

"Hey, come here." He opened his arms for her and quickly hid in his embrace. FP pecked a quick kiss on her forehead.

"I'm not saying that being together isn't going to be difficult, but as long as we both want to grow together I believe we can make it." He said lovingly, combing one of his hands through her hair.

"We're not teenagers anymore, we know better now. If we communicate, things will be different. I want that. I want things to be different this time, I want for us to be happy, together."

"Why are you so forgiving? Why don't you hate me?" Alice asked, on the verge of tears.

She couldn't understand why the man she hid such a big secret from didn't resent her. How could he look at her, be with her, and not feel the anger of having hidden his son from him for sixteen years?

"Because I know who you are. You're not filled with hate. You're passionate and fierce, but you are not a bad person, Alice. It doesn't matter how hard you try to make me believe that you're evil, or that you deserve something awful for keeping Charles from me, I'll never think of you that way. I know your real light. And I believe that you know mine."

"And after being broken for so long, you come to recognize the look in someone's eyes when they are exactly like you. Looking into yours is like looking in a mirror." He said softly, looking at her with sad twinkling eyes.

"I know that maybe it's impossible to put those pieces together, maybe the cracks will always be visible. But I think that's okay as long as we have each other."

"So this is it? You and me?" She wondered, smiling as she realized what this meant.

"Against the world." He whispered lovingly, before kissing her again.

Alice could barely believe that this man still saw her the way he used to, even after all they had been through. But then again, she still saw him for the boy he used to be. Sweet, caring, passionate. Maybe there wasn't any pain in the world that could ever change how they looked at one another.

"Are you okay with it if we don't tell Charles yet? For us to figure out this between us without confusing him?" Alice said, her fingers tracing his chest.

"Believe me, I want nothing more than for everyone to know about you and me, but I am afraid that if I hurt him once more, I'll lose him for good."

FP gave her a small nod. He had just become a father a little while ago, and yet he could feel perfectly why Alice was so hesitant. It was still their job to protect him. First, it was up to them to figure out their relationship.

"I think that's a good idea. We have a lot to talk about and I don't want him to sit in between that either, especially not now I am trying to bond with him. This is our little secret." He said sweetly.

"Sneaking around with you almost feels like we're teenagers again." Alice giggled a little. It certainly looked like nothing had changed, except for one crucial thing.

"But this time we're wiser, and I won't let you slip away again." She whispered lovingly, determined to keep him.

Chapter Text

It was still an early morning, the sun barely being up, but no matter the opportunity to sleep in Alice and FP had been awake for a while.

As soon as the first rays of sun had come up and awoken them with ultraviolet light shining into the bedroom, they had taken advantage of the time they had together. Being together in secret was everything but easy, and it made every second count.

So, instead of sleeping in, Alice had some other plans for them. She had taken off her shirt and straddled FP's lap, while his hands came to hold her tiny frame ever so naturally.

He couldn't stop staring at her chest, being too mesmerized by her. Even when they had a limited amount of time before the day would start, he was taking things slow. His lips attached to her chest to press soft little love bites, as he tried to map out every single inch of her skin.

"This is still so hot." He growled, while his thumb played with her nipple piercing. The silver piece was hypnotizing him.

"You got this to drive me crazy, didn't you?" FP smirked up at her, as he tightened the hold he had on her waist.

He remembered the day she had gotten it vividly. It was a few months before he left for the city. She had spoken about getting a piercing before, but then one day she asked him what he would think if she'd pierced her nipple, and he had been sold ever since. Seeing it drive him crazy was only a bonus for her. It appeared that even after all these years he still loved it.

"Just a little." Alice giggled, before pecking a cute kiss on his lips.

"Hey, it's still early, what do you say we save some water and shower together?" She said knowingly, wigging her eyebrows a little.

"That sounds like music to my ears." FP said, before tapping her ass to hint her to get off the bed, so they could make their way into the bathroom.

Alice peaked her head into the living room and fortunately there was no sign of Charles just yet. It was before seven in the morning, so even for a school day it was quite early to be up.

She had put on a shirt just in case, but when she saw that the coast was clear she took FP's hand and dragged him towards the other side of the apartment as quickly as she could.

FP smirked from ear to ear when they rushed inside the bathroom, and heard her flicking the lock immediately, assuring their privacy.

He couldn't stop looking at her as she undressed himself in front of him. His pupils dilated as he scanned her naked body, trying to ask himself how he got so incredibly lucky. A few months ago he had walked into the Wyrm having no clue what his visit would bring him and now he had more than he could've ever dreamed of.

She was all his again. The impossible had happened. Even after all the shitty cards life had handed them, they proved to be stronger.

He always thought it was a cliche for a story to turn out like this, but after everything that had happened between him and Alice he had realized that maybe a bit of a cliche is what he needed. They had earned their time in paradise.

"What is it?" Alice asked insecurely, as she felt his eyes burning through her soul.

It wasn't until she spoke that he realized he had been staring at her, without having moved an inch.

"I'm trying to remember you." He said softly.

"You know, in case I won't ever have it again." His cheeks flushed a little and Alice's face softened.

"We'll be okay." Alice promised, as she walked over to him to wrap her arms around him and kiss him passionately.

She tugged on the hem of his shirt and he quickly shrugged it off. While his lips still chased hers he pushed down his pajama bottoms and boxers and pushed her naked body close to his. It was all they both needed in that very moment, trying to make up for all the time they've lost with possessive touches and holding each other as close as humanly possible with only the water surrounding them.

**

Their shower together had lasted a little longer than they had planned, so when FP and Alice came walking out of the bathroom, Charles was sitting at the dinner table eating his cereal. Alice had a towel wrapped around her shoulders, making sure her shirt wasn't getting wet and letting her hair down to dry there, and FP yawned loudly when he followed her out.

"Did you just come out of the shower together?" Charles' spoon left hanging in the middle of the air, on his way to his mouth.

"What? No, of course not. I was just brushing my teeth when your mother showered." FP said nonchalantly.

"Alright..." Charles looked at them suspiciously.

Something wasn't adding up. However, the boy didn't have long to think about it, because he almost had to leave.

"I'm off to school." He kissed both his parents' cheek and took his backpack, waving once more before rushing out of the apartment door.

"Do you think he bought it?" FP asked immediately, knowing that it had looked odd. They should be more careful.

"I hope so. You solved that great, I had no idea what to say." Alice said, breathing out in relief.

"Well, it's better than him knowing all the unspeakable things I just did to you." FP smirked as he pulled her closer. Alice giggled.

"Let me make you some breakfast." He slapped her butt and made his way towards the kitchen, where be putted some bread in the toaster and took some eggs out of the fridge to make her an omelet.

Alice stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, having an urge to hold him. She pressed a sweet kiss on his back, over the cotton of his shirt. She could get used to mornings like these.

While FP focused on breakfast, his eyes shifted to the fridge. With a few magnets, there hung some childhood pictures of Charles. He had never really noticed them before until now.

"That's cute picture." FP gestured for the one closest to his side.

Alice turned her head from behind him to see what he was looking at and smiled lovingly when she saw what it was.

"Fred organized a picnick that weekend because he was sad about things some boys at school had told him." She told him, sharing the story behind the picture.

"What did they say?" FP asked curiously, but a little worried.

"Things about me being a single mother. When they learned I was a gang leader, it changed quickly." Alice smirked a little. She had always been very protective of her son.

"Now he has a great group of friends." She said, but FP wasn't listening.

His eyes were glued on the picture, and when Alice let go off his middle to take a better look at him, she saw that his eyes were glossing over.

"Are you okay?" She asked him softly, breaking him out of his trance. FP looked at her and swallowed, before giving her a small nod.

"Yeah... just thinking about how I would love to experience the whole journey. From pregnancy, sleepless nights, first steps... all of it." He said, dreaming of a life with a little kid.

The chance to raise a family was being taken away from him twice, and he hoped that somewhere it was written in the stars for him to go through it all.

"You want kids? Besides Charles?" Alice asked, a little confused.

"That was always my dream, yes." He told her, smiling softly.

"Maybe we could do that together, one day." His eyes twinkled, but Alice was only panicking.

"I've never thought about having another kid before. We just got back together, and Charles he—" Alice started to ramble nervously, so he quickly took her shoulders into his hands.

"Al, I am not saying I want to have a child now, but maybe somewhere in the future. I would love to have that with you. Right now I am happy with how things are, with us." He assured her, hoping that it would calm her down.

But that wasn't what Alice meant. She had to be honest with him, before she would accidentally lead him on.

"FP, I am not sure I want another child. Ever." She said quietly. FP's face fell, and his arms slid off her shoulders.

"Would that be a dealbreaker?" She asked him, suddenly feeling incredibly guilty.

"You really think you don't want that?" He asked in return, needing to know for sure.

"I love Charles and I wouldn't trade him for the world, but it hasn't been easy FP. I am happy with the way things are and I'm not sure I see that changing." She told him, feeling her own tears take over.

"What does that mean for us?" She has to ask him, even if that meant it was over.

"All I ever wanted was to have kids, to raise a family." FP said quietly, casting his eyes away.

"I'm sorry." Alice croaked out.

"Don't be, Alice. It's fine." He looked at her again and gave her a small smile.

"Does that mean you don't want to be with me anymore?" Alice was afraid of the answer, but she needed to know.

"What? Of course I want to be with you, Alice." FP said instantly, as he took her waist into his hands and pulled her close.

"But you shouldn't sacrifice that for me, FP. You already sacrificed too much without knowing." Alice said, making him remember all that he didn't have because of their past.

"We'll be fine. I promise." He assured her, before planting a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Come, let's eat." He turned off the stove and Alice grabbed two plates, to bring over to the dinner table.

They were eating in silence, both of them afraid to say the wrong thing. But then FP's phone rang, breaking the silence.

"Hello?"

FP began to smile when he heard who was on the other line.

"Martin, hi!" He chirped.

"What did you think of the new stuff?"

He had send him the ending a little while ago, after Charles had a perfect idea on what to do. He was satisfied and happy and he hoped his publisher was too.

And when he heard the news on the other end of the phone, his mouth fell wide open. It more than he could ever dream of.

"Wait, really? You're not kidding me, right?" He asked, wanting to know for sure.

When Martin chuckled on the other side and assured him that he was serious, FP began to smile brightly.

"That's amazing! We'll be there, I'll make sure I am prepared." FP thanked him, and hung up the phone, immediately looking at Alice with a big goofy grin.

"Good news?" She wondered, smiling at him.

"They liked what I did with the flash forward so much that they offered me a new series. I get to continue the Southside Comics with a new story."

"The only difference is that they aren't teens anymore, but it takes place in our present now."

"I'm so happy for you." Alice cupped his cheek and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. She loved seeing him like this.

"Are you okay with that? Do you mind if I use our story now for my Comics?" He grasped her hand into his own, suddenly growing insecure.

"I feel honored." She assured him, a sweet smile on her lips.

"Maybe leave what we just did out of it. Charles will be reading." She teased, referring to their shower.

"Good call." FP chuckled.

"They invited me for an event to present the idea. Would you come with me?"

"You want me there?" Alice wondered, almost confused that he'd invite her into an event like that.

"Absolutely. You're the star of my story and anyone should see the woman I am so crazy about." He said, smiling proudly.

"In that case, I would love to go." Alice grinned, and felt her heart flutter when he kissed her knuckles.

"Shit, I need to get changed." Alice looked at the time and realized she was getting late.

When she rushed out of her bedroom, fully dressed for the day, she made her way over to the kitchen where FP was doing to dishes.

"I gotta go to the Wyrm. See you tonight." She kissed his cheek.

"I might stop by, if that's alright." He said knowingly.

"Always." She smirked.

**

FP had kept his promise, and had taken Charles with him for a night at the Wyrm. It was crowded as always, but it truly felt like a family coming together. He had made his way over to the bar, where Alice was tending.

"What can I get you?" She smirked when she saw her boyfriend.

"How about a beer, a coke and a kiss from the bartender?" FP raised his eyebrow.

"Hmm, we'll see about that last one." She teased.

"If you stay around long enough, maybe we can have some fun later." Alice looked around her if nobody was watching and leant a little closer to FP.

"That's music to my ears." He smirked at her.

She put the beer and coke in front of him and winked once more, before watching him go back to their son.

It wasn't until later that night, that another man approached her for something else but a drink.

"Hey hot shot, how are you doing?" A man slid on one of the barstools and winked at her.

"Are you free tomorrow night?" He asked her.

"Sorry, I am not." Alice said coldly, hoping to bore him away.

"Ah come on, you are always up for a little fun." He said, referring to her wild past.

They had met before, but Alice didn't even remember that. She clearly had a reputation and she never hated it as much as she did now.

"I am, just not with you." Alice said, laughing a little.

"You should know that I have a great boyfriend." She crossed her arms and gave a sassy smirk.

"Alice Smith is tied down? That's new." He said, almost impressed.

"Takes someone special. He's the only one I want to have fun with." Alice said, smiling a little to herself. She had never once realized how she could see herself with FP forever.

"Would he mind sharing you for the night?" He asked, a smug smile on his face.

"Because my no doesn't mean enough to you?" Alice spat, feeling herself grow mad.

"Sweetie, if you don't keep yourself in line then you know where the door is." She added with a hiss, which was enough to scare him away.

As if he could sense it, FP made his way towards the bar, having seen the last part of their encounter which didn't seem all too friendly.

"Did that guy bother you?" He asked, already preparing himself to kick him out.

"Nothing I can't handle." She told him, smirking a little.

"I am going to play some darts with Charles and bring him home after, okay?" He said, making sure she knew he was home at a sensible time.

"Thank you. Don't forget to come back." She said knowingly, making him grin.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

**

It was after midnight when FP returned. The bar was empty, with only Alice left who was cleaning the last little things. He smirked when he walked her way, placing his hands firmly on her hips.

"So, now everyone's gone... what do you suggest we do in an empty bar?" FP growled, as he squeezed her hips and softly swayed her.

"Hmm, we could deep clean it?" Alice raised her eyebrow with a straight face.

"Oh, that is your idea of fun?" FP said, playing along.

"Do you have a better idea?"

FP smirked, and took her legs into his strong hands, before hoisting her up on the pool table, showing her exactly what he had in mind for fun.

He attached her lips to her throat and teasingly nipped the skin there, while his hands slowly mapped out the curves of her body, almost possessively claiming her.

While he could feel her hand tangling in his hair, somehow she seemed to be distracted. He wanted to know for sure she was into this, so he pulled back to look at her, his eyes searching for hers.

"Are you alright?" FP wondered, seeing that she was deeply thinking about something.

"Yes, I am. Sorry, I am a little distracted." She gave him a small smile and placed her hand on his cheek.

"Are you sure that guy tonight didn't bother you?" He had a feeling that it still got into her head, and he wished he would have said something.

"No, it's not that... but he got me thinking." Alice said, trying to find the right words for what was going on in her mind. She took his arms in her small hands, holding onto him.

"About what?" He asked softly, offering her a listening ear.

"The lifestyle I used to have, going home with strangers, every day being a wild night out, not knowing what tomorrow would bring..." Alice summed up, all part of her old life.

"You miss that?" FP's voice was so soft, that Alice couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat.

"No, that's the thing. I don't. I don't miss it at all." She said instantly, her eyes locking directly with his.

"All I want is going home with you, cuddle on the couch, maybe put on a movie that we'll barely watch because we're almost falling asleep... that kind of stuff." Alice pulled him closer, as he stood comfortably between her legs. She was still sitting on the pooltable.

"It may sound so boring to a lot of people, but now there is someone I want to have all that with, I realize how lucky I am." Her eyes twinkled.

"That's all I want, too." FP promised, giving her a sweet smile.

"I'd love to be a boring ass couple with you." He grinned, playfully nudging her.

"You want that? You want that boring life with me?" Alice asked softly, her voice sounding hopeful.

"No day with you is boring, Alice." FP said lovingly, one hand cupping her cheek. She contently leant into his touch.

"Because let's face it, do you think a gangleader and a comic book artist having a teenage love child together is boring? I don't think so." He teased, effectively making her laugh.

"And would a boring couple plan to have sex on the pooltable in an empty bar?" He chuckled, referring to what they were about to do.

"You have a point there." Alice smiled, loving how he always knew what to say.

"But... we can also go home, take a bath, set the mood... and have sex in our boring bed." FP said softly, his hands going back to the place on her hips that were basically home to him.

"I'd love that..."

"...But I think we should do both." Alice grinned and took her bottom lip between her teeth. FP growled and focussed his eyes on her lips.

"Can't help it, you look hot tonight." She whispered, teasing him a little without kissing him just yet.

"You're my dream girl, Alice." FP said lowly, before kissing her hard and passionate, to make love to her on their table, in the place where they fell in love.

Chapter Text

The fire sea of flames was hurting his eyes, and the smoke quickly filled his lungs, making it impossible to breathe. His sight was clouded, taking away his last sense that could help him escape.

He wasn't going to make it, he could feel that in the way his body was about to give up. Maybe it was supposed to end like this. Life had never created an easy path for him, not even if it seemed like he had it all. No amount of money could save him now.

The flames were aggressive and high, slowly closing him in. He wanted an escape, but there wasn't any.

FP felt the sweat streaming down his face, a mixture of his anxiety and the heat. He was all alone, just like he had always been. And just like that, he would die alone, surrounded by fire, smoke and the internal pain of knowing he didn't fight hard enough.

When he squinted his eyes, he could make out the sillouhette of his ex-wife. She was smirking devilishly. She enjoyed watching him die. And even with the flames coming close, almost burning his skin, nothing hurt as much as seeing the enjoyment on her face.

All FP needed was a miracle, someone to save him. But who would possible come and rescue him? Who actually cared?

But then the flames suddenly backed off, as if someone was controlling them. The heat became a little less intense, and there seemed to be more air.

Coming closer, was a young teenage boy. He extended his hand.

"Are you okay, Dad?"

FP shot up in an instant, trying to catch his breath. It took him a while to realize where he was. For a second he thought he was in New York, but when his eyes adjusted to the dark, he realized that he was in Riverdale, next to Alice.

"FP? What is going on?" Alice asked sleepily, when his sudden movement had woken him up.

"Nothing, go back to bed." He said, avoiding her eyes. He wanted to lay down again, but Alice took his arm into her hand.

"Hey, you're sweating. What happened?" She stroke her hand over his forehead, feeling how warm be was. Something was definitely off.

"Just a nightmare. It's okay." He said absentmindedly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alice asked softly, seeing the look on his face. This didn't seem like a regular nightmare.

FP looked at her and hesitated for a second. He was so used to keeping everything to himself, that having a partner that you could tell everything too felt so strangely new.

"It was about Gladys..." He confessed, feeling his cheeks blush.

"I am just trying to wrap my head around what happened. It seemed I took my time fully understanding what she tried to do."

He sighed quietly, as he leant against the headboard. Alice looked at him, giving him all the time he needed to tell what he had dreamed about.

"I was married to her for ten years, Alice. It may not have always been the way a happy marriage should be, but that she would go this far is beyond me."

"You must really hate someone to try to take their life. I never realized she felt that way about me." FP looked at his hands, trying his hardest not to cry. He thought it hadn't affected him that much. Turned out, it did.

"I may not have loved her, but I cared about her. I thought she felt the same, but..." He looked at Alice, as he was unable to finish his sentence.

Caring about someone was complicated, especially in a relationship that was toxic from the start. He didn't know why, but he did care. He cared too much for someone who didn't think twice about taking his life.

"She can't hurt you, FP. Not as long as I am here." Alice cupped his cheek and gave him a soft smile.

She knew that he would do anything to protect her and she hoped that he knew that she would do the same.

"I wished I could go back in time and tell you everything, to make you stay." Alice said quietly, as she swallowed her tears.

"But since I can't, I promise you I will do everything to make sure I, or anyone else, won't hurt you." She smiled through her tears, giving him a promise that she would keep forever.

"Thank you, Alice." He gave her a sweet smile and hugged her close to his chest. A few months ago he couldn't have dreamed of being with her again.

"Come, let's go back to sleep." She said softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek before laying down again.

**

The following morning, Alice was woken up by the sound of her fire alarm. She noticed FP wasn't next to her anymore, so she ran towards the living room, scared of what she would find there.

"Oh my god, is everything okay?" She saw FP in the kitchen, trying to wave away the smoke with his hands.

"I wanted to make you breakfast in bed." He said a little sheepishly.

"So, you put my kitchen on fire?" Alice immediately opened a window, which was all they could do to get the smoke away from their apartment.

"I overestimated my abilities, yeah." He coughed and took a step away from the stove, but not before putting the frying pan into the sink to let it cool off.

"It's very sweet of you, though." Alice smiled, telling him that it was okay. It could happen to anyone. The smoke was already clearing, thanks to the fresh air.

"Come, let's make something together." She took his hand and reached for another frying pan.

"But it's your birthday, I don't want you do have to do anything today." He said, feeling guilty for messing up.

"You remembered?" Her eyes sparked. She had barely remembered herself. FP nodded. He had never forgotten it.

"Come, I'll show you how to make the perfect French toast." Alice smiled happily.

She felt his hands snake around her waist, to hold her close. His head rested on her shoulder while his hands naturally landed on her abdomen. He was in his own personal heaven.

"FP, are you listening?" She had been chatting away for a while now, but noticed that he hadn't been answering.

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"Sorry, I was daydreaming." He pulled her back a little closer to his chest.

"About me, I hope?" She teased.

"You've been in my daydreams for sixteen years, Alice." He told her lovingly, making her eyes well up.

"What do you want to do today?" He asked, since it was her birthday. Anything she wanted, she could have today.

"We could go to the Farmer's market? I can buy some fresh vegetables and learn you how to cook." She proposed, believing it was a cute place for a date. Alice looked tough, but she enjoyed going there. It made her feel at ease.

"That's a lost cause, babe." FP chuckled, but he loved the idea.

But Alice studied his face, and noticed how his face fell. His mind was anywhere but with her in the kitchen, which is why she believed the pan had caught fire in the first place.

"Is everything okay?" She asked him, hoping that he would open up.

"Yeah... everything is fine. More than fine." He gave her a small smile, which he believed was convincing.

However, Alice could see that he was putting on a mask, a habit he developed because of ten years in a toxic marriage.

"Are you still shaken up about your nightmare?" She asked him, as she was stroking his chest in a calming motion. FP nodded slowly.

"I've been thinking, about you, about me, about Charles..." He began carefully, looking for the right words.

"He was in my nightmare. He's the one who saved me over and over again." He confessed softly.

It was the only thing he wanted to remember from last night. The way he extended his hand and dragged him out of the surrounding flames.

"It made me realize how much I have. He's my son, and he loves me. I believe that he would save me if he could, and I believe I would do the same for him. That's a new feeling, one I only begin to understand because of that nightmare."

Alice looked into his eyes, feeling his words make her heart beat faster. She had always believed that FP loved Charles from the very first second they had met, even before they knew their real bond.

"I meant it when I said that we would be fine, Al. If you don't want to have any more kids, that's okay with me." He took her waist into his hands and looked at her intensely, making sure that she could read the sincerity in his eyes.

"Honey... is that really what you want? I can't hold you back. I won't hold you back." She told him emotionally, knowing how important it was to him. But FP meant every single word.

"If there is one thing I've learned in my life it's that not every wish you have comes true. Charles is more of a son I ever thought I would have. I'd rather focus on what I do have then what I don't. So no, it won't be a dealbreaker." He promised her.

Processing that he might not ever raise a kid was going to be difficult, but a big part of him had lost hope years ago when Gladys had made so crystal clear that she didn't want to have his babies. He did have a kid now, and it was more than he had ever dared to dream of.

"I am sorry that I even brought it up, I didn't want to upset you." He wished that he would've thought it through before talking about children.

"You didn't, it just caught me off guard. The thought just never popped up into my head." She said, giving him a soft smile.

Alice knew very well that maybe one day, she could feel differently, but there was also a chance she might now. She loves Charles, and she loves raising him, but it was no guarantee for the future. She just couldn't give him that.

"For now let's focus on Charles, together. That is what is most important and what is more than enough for me, okay? I promise you." He said lovingly, before pressing a kiss on her forehead.

Alice melted into his hold for a brief second, still not believing he was hers. This was more than she could ever hope for, and she wanted for everyone to know how in love she was.

"I've been thinking about us too, Alice." FP began softly, pulling back a little so he could look at her.

He could say so much about her, but she was simply the woman he was meant to be with, the woman he loved more than he had ever loved anyone.

"You wanted for this to go slow... but isn't that all the more dangerous?" He whispered, her eyes looking back at him with a curious twinkle.

"The slower we go into this, the more I realize I want it all. Every single second of my life." FP's smile grew wider, and Alice couldn't help but fall even harder.

"It's dangerous. Terrifying." His nose brushed against hers, and Alice closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the closeness.

"Because Alice, some things aren't meant to go slow." He cupped her cheek with one hand, and she could feel the warmth of his skin on her own.

"Like riding a bike. You remember the first time we took a ride? You told me to go slow too."

"And remember what I said?"

Alice smiled. She remembered. Of course she did.

"That it would be way too dangerous to go slow..." She said sweetly, a grin curling on her face.

"That's us, Alice. I don't want to go slow. Because if we do, we'll end up getting hurt." FP's hands wrapped tightly around her waist, as he held her impossibly close.

"What I am trying to tell you is... screw taking our time. I am in love with you, and I want the real deal. Even if that means going faster than we think we can handle. We'll figure it out." He professed lovingly, and those very words erupted butterflies in Alice's body as if she was seventeen all over again.

"With our hair in the wind, and my arms around your middle." Alice said sweetly, softly nudging her nose against his.

"All there is to it is hold on. We'll get somewhere." FP smiled and softly kissed his girlfriend— he loved thinking about her as his girlfriend, as if no time had passed and they were still those lovesick teenagers.

"Speaking of going fast... We should tell Charles about us." She said, smiling up at him.

"You really want to?" He combed with his hands through her hair.

"Yeah I do, screw taking it slow. I don't want to sneak around anymore. I want the whole world to know about us." She said, before taking his face into her hands to kiss him deeply.

**

Alice and FP strolled over the Farmer's Market together, hands intwined with one another's. After years of leading a gang, almost having to commit crimes to survive, of having a life that was a rollercoaster adventure it felt strange to walk here, with her boyfriend, the father of her child, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

She'd never thought she'd ever end up like that, not with anybody, but especially not with FP. Her mind told her to panic, maybe even to run because it would all be taken away sooner or later, but she believed she was stronger than that.

"Thank you, for taking me out today." Alice smiled at FP and squeezed his hand a little stronger.

"We're going out a lot more, to make up for the years we've missed." He promised her, his eyes twinkling as they locked with hers.

But instead of looking back into her sparkling eyes, he saw that she was tearing up. Before he knew it, she was crying silently. FP's eyes widened and he immediately stopped walking, making them come to a halt.

"Al, hey... I didn't mean to upset you." He pulled her closer by her waist. He hated seeing her cry, especially if he was the reason.

"You didn't... I am just so happy. With you, with Charles, with Fred... It's scary." She croaked out. Alice thought she was stronger than her own fear, but it turned out that it still managed to take over.

"Something always happens, as if I am not allowed to feel happiness." Her shoulders shocked a little, and she was almost too scared to look at him, afraid that he would find it ridiculous.

"Does being happy scare you?" He asked her, his voice sweet and inviting.

He would never judge her if that was the way he felt. In fact, he could understand that she felt that way.

Alice nodded softly, while pushing herself to look at him. Instead of judgement, she saw a sweet and assuring look written all over his face.

"Well... it scares me too. But that's a good thing. Because now we can be scared together." He took both her hands into his own and gazed down to their intertwined fingers for a little bit. They fitted together perfectly.

Alice smiled at him, feeling relieved that he didn't think she was crazy, or that she was self-sabotaging. He wasn't even scared to admit that he felt exactly the same. He leant in to softly peck a loving kiss on her lips, to tell her that they were in this together, until he felt something tugging on his flannel.

He arched his eyebrow confused, until he saw what it was that was taking his attention. It was a goat, trying to munch on his clothes.

"This goat is eating me!" FP exclaimed, trying to get his arm back from the surprisingly strong animal.

"Al, do something!" He asked, struggling against the grip of the goat.

But Alice wasn't going to help him, instead she was laughing at him, which effectively cleared all the tears that had been there today.

"I'm taking a picture for the archives, babe. Smile!" She took out her phone and took a quick shot, with FP looking incredibly angry at the goat just before he managed to take his arm back and save his flannel.

"You're lucky you're cute." He shook his head and wagged his finger at her playfully.

"And you're lucky goat meat is disgusting." FP turned to the goat who was looking way to happy at the couple, still demanding attention.

"Be nice to her! She just likes you." Alice grinned, as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Tell her I'm already taken." FP smirked at her, and pecked a cute kiss on her lips.

**

Later that day, Alice returned home from picking up some snacks and a cake for the small get together they would have at the Wyrm tonight, to celebrate her birthday.

She hadn't even planned on doing anything, but FP had spilled that he, Fred and Charles had planned a little something for her, to not let this day goodbye without a little celebration. She had given in, because she couldn't pretended that it didn't mean a lot to her.

When she made her way into her apartment, she noticed FP sitting on the couch, neatly folding the laundry that he had done. He hadn't heard her, so she leant against the doorframe that led into her living room and smiled to herself.

She could argue with herself of why they were together with a few logical facts. He was the father of her child, of course that would recall some emotions. They had a long history together, this flame could be an old one that would vanish one day.

And of course he lived with them, because he needed to bond with his son and didn't have anywhere else to be. It all just made so much sense.

But FP doing her laundry, looking so peacefully calm, hit different. For a moment, it felt as if there had no time passed between them. As if she saw the vision of how they could've been if she had told him about Charles.

She would've had years of her coming home and seeing the love of her life doing laundry, like it was every other day. She wouldn't even have noticed.

However, that was not how things were for them. She hadn't told him about Charles and they had been apart for almost seventeen years.

So, FP doing her laundry didn't make sense. The vision of her old flame, the father of her child, her boyfriend, sitting on her couch and folding laundry while absentmindedly thinking of something else made her realize that maybe all of that didn't matter. They could still have all that Alice had ever dreamed of, with him.

And so, she barely even thought before she finally said what she had felt since she was seventeen.

"I love you." Alice said quietly.

FP finally looked up, as if her voice was the thing that suddenly made her visible.

He started to grin.

"Can you say that again?" He asked, his smile now curling from ear to ear.

Alice chuckled, and made her way over to him. She sat down in his lap, and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

"I love you." She repeated lovingly, looking straight into the brown eyes that had given her butterflies for as long as she could remember.

"Once more," FP teased, nudging his nose against hers.

"I love you." She said, smiling brightly.

"Just one more time, I swear." FP let out a chuckle, loving way too much to finally hear her say it.

"I love you." Her eyes twinkled.

She had been so afraid to say it to him, even when he had confessed a long time ago how he felt about her. She still had all the reasons to be scared, but she dared to take that risk.

"And you love me too, don't you?" She asked, smirking wickedly.

"You bet I do. I love you, Alice." He kissed her passionately.

It felt good to finally hear her say it, and to unapologetically say it to her. Alice softly stroke his cheek when they pulled back and in his eyes she saw everything that she had ever been looking for.

"This is what I want, FP. I want all those little things like doing laundry together, having breakfast in bed on my birthday or for no special reason, and for us not leaving the house on Sundays because it is pajamas day, and just to... to wake up next to you every single morning."

"And we'll have all of that." He promised her.

"Come, we have birthday party to go to."

**

A/N: It's late and I haven't been this tired in a long time because I've been working so hard at a job that I fortunately really love right now, so maybe it's the exhaustion speaking and the emotions that come with it, but I love every single one of you who still reads my work and takes time to vote and comment.

A lot of things happened in this chapter and it's one I really love so I hope you all loved it too. I am working really hard on the things that I write even if you think it's done easily or doesn't take that much time— it does, and I have realized how important it is to me. Thanks for the love and please leave a comment to tell me what you think because they always make me day.

Chapter Text

Alice and Fred were watching a movie together, for old time sake. Ever since FP had returned to town, things had been crazy, which left a little time for time to hang out together and catch up on each other's lives. They would always be close, but it felt good to actually plan a night where it was just the two of them.

However, Fred was barely looking at the movie, as he could see on Alice's face that she tried her hardest not to grin. She laughed a little louder and was constantly glowing. It was odd, considering she had a hard time since FP had come back to town. He figured it had something to do with him.

"Are you going to spill?" Fred took the remote and pressed on pause.

"That goofy smile on your face. What are you hiding?" He gestured to her features, telling her that he could read perfectly well that something was going on.

Alice knew that she and FP had agreed to keep it quiet until they had told Charles, but as Fred was looking at her she found herself unable to keep her mouth shut any longer. Fred was her dearest friend and she didn't want to keep this from him, she was way too happy for that.

"You have to keep it a secret." She smirked, and put her feet on the couch as she turned to him. Fred nodded, laughing a little.

"FP and I are back together." Alice squealed happily, which was something he hadn't seen do since she was a teenager.

"Why am I only hearing this now? That is huge!" Fred exclaimed happily.

He had always thought that sooner or later something more was going happen between them, but he hadn't expected that they went so fast.

"And how is it going?" He asked her curiously, wanting to know all the details.

"I am so in love, Fred. I can't even imagine that we've been without each other for so long." Alice sighed dreamily.

She felt that she was back on the same cloud she was at seventeen, only this time she knew it was going to last.

"Charles doesn't know yet, so zip your lips." She said, making the gesturing with her hands.

Fred nodded, but it was halfheartedly. He knew it was unfair, but he was scared. Throughout the years, he and Alice had always been attached to the hip. She and Charles were his family, the only people who came close to having one of his own. He treated Alice like a sister and Charles like his son, but everything had so drastically changed that he wasn't sure if that feeling would ever return.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked worriedly, when she saw the way his face fell.

"Nothing is going to change between us, is it?" Fred wondered, his eyes shimmering insecurely. He hated that he had to ask, but the thoughts had been haunting them for a while now.

"What are talking about?" She looked confused.

"You know... Charles and FP are growing closer and now you are getting back together. I just wonder where that leaves me." He said a little quiet.

Fred was never one to be extremely shy, or not have the right words ready. But with Alice, with his family, it was different.

"Fred, you're my best friend. You've been by my side like nobody else. You've been Charles' father figure. You are my family. Nothing is going to change that. You're irreplaceable." Alice took his hand into her own and squeezed it comfortingly.

He simply had a place in her life that nobody else could fill. Fred was her brother, the one that protected her and the one that she protected. He had been there for her son like a parent and always had a shoulder for them to lean on.

"I hope it won't." Fred said, giving her a small smile. He believed her, but it was hard not to be scared of losing his family.

"Look at me. I promise. Charles adores you and so do I. You've always been family and you always will be." She gave him a loving smile as she looked right into his eyes, hoping that he could believe her on her word.

"Because if you think that there is a way out, you are dead wrong my friend." Alice playfully pushed him, before scooting over closer to give him a big hug.

"Glad to hear it." Fred chuckled in their embrace.

"I love you." She said, as she cupped his cheek and kissed his cheek.

"Love you too, Alice." Fred said, smiling again.

**

While Charles was out with friends, FP and Alice lay cuddled up on the couch together, having an old shoe box with Polaroids in their lap. Alice had always kept it under her bed, to give it a look every now and then when she felt nostalgic. It had broken her heart to look at those memories alone, but feeling FP's body so close to hers as they reminisced patched those pieces back together.

"You had such long brown curls." FP smiled as he showed her one of the pictures. He had taken that one, back when they were in the Serpents together.

He took another one, that was of them together. Alice was sitting on his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck. The couple looked at each other instead of the camera, which was the perfect metaphor for their teenage relationship— always looking at one another instead of the world around them.

"Look at us... we were so in love." FP sighed quietly, feeling his heart sink as he thought about the years they could have had.

"Yeah, we were." Alice said softly, taking a closer look at the picture.

"I was just blind to see it." FP said, swallowing his emotions away.

"But you're here now." Alice turned his head by placing her fingers on his jaw. She pecked a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Remember this, when Fred and I had a hotdog eating contest?" FP took another picture, which was a lot less flattering.

"You won easily." Alice chuckled. Nothing beats the Jones appetite.

"Charles got your appetite, it's crazy." She said, making FP laugh a little.

He took a few more Polaroids and scanned through them, his eyes filling with tears as he looked at every single memory of them together. He knew exactly why Alice had kept it, even while she had been angry with him for leaving. Their whole story was in there.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly, her finger tracing his jaw.

"Yeah... I just can't wait till we look at more pictures in about twenty years, and they are of us now." FP turned his head to look at her and gave her a soft smile. He was ready to make more memories with her, ones that they would immortalize in pictures too.

"I mean, that is if you see a future for us." He said, almost a little insecure.

"I do. You've always been my future." She told him sweetly, making him smile back at her.

However, he had lived a big part of his life away from her, away from the town where they fell in love, and Alice wasn't sure he meant for their future to be here, in this apartment, in this town.

"Do you see yourself staying in Riverdale?" She wondered softly, believing it was best to ask him, instead of creating scenarios in her head that would upset her.

"Yeah, I do." He said, giving her that loving smile that made her heart beat faster.

"I'm selling my apartment in New York, I want to get a new one there." FP told her, knowing it was something that was wandering in her mind.

"Riverdale is our home, but I would love to make some memories with you there." His hand combed through her hair, and Alice couldn't help but smile brightly. He wanted to make her part of his world in the city too.

"Maybe we'll look for a place there together, one that isn't as cold as where I used to live, but something for us to be as a family." FP kept on staring into her eyes. to read how she felt about the idea. Her eyes were beaming.

"I always promised myself to buy a place I really loved once I had a family to share it with." He pulled her closer.

"I finally got that now." The words left his lips like a whisper.

"I'd love to have a home with you in the city." Alice said, her eyes twinkling with happiness.

"Maybe we could build one together." FP grinned, already imagining how wonderful it would be to build the perfect home together.

"But as long as you are there I think I can feel at home anywhere." FP smiled.

She had never thought she'd ever be his future again, let alone hearing him say those words with so much love filled in them. The world was theirs again.

Alice shifted on the couch, and put her legs over his lap. His hands came to rest on her waist as he waited for her next step.

"Charles isn't home in a few hours..." She arched her eyebrow knowingly.

There curled a smile on his lips, loving where this was going. It would be one of their last moments dating in secret and they were going to savor every minute.

**

FP had slowly undressed Alice, wanting nothing more than to take care of her. He felt like a young teenager who fell in love for the first time and wanted to show the whole wide world how crazy he was about her. Soon, they finally could. It was sixteen years overdue, but he counted himself lucky that the universe gave them a second chance.

"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on." He whispered lovingly, looking at her in her underwear.

FP was still fully dressed, still stopping her every time she wanted to undress him. She had looked at him with a puzzled expression, but he had just continued kissing her neck, which was hard to resist for Alice. For a second she was afraid he wasn't as into it as she was, but when he had looked at with those loved filled eyes, she knew he was in this with all that he had.

"And I know that nothing will ever change that." He leant in to kiss her again, while his hands drifted down her butt to lift her up.

While in his arms, one hand crept up to the clip of bra and swiftly opened it, making Alice shrug it off with ease. He could stare at her forever if he had the time.

"Lay down, today is all about you." He walked her towards the end of the bed and softly draped het down, his eyes not leaving hers for a second.

"Sorry, I need a moment to look at you." He smirked mischievously.

"Maybe you can snap a picture so you can look at me anytime you want." Alice whispered seductively. FP growled loudly and kissed her hard, letting everything fade away for the time being.

**

Charles had been reading on the couch after school, while FP just sat the table for dinner. He eyed Alice for a brief second, asking her with one look on whether now was the right moment. It was just the three of them now, and one way or another they had to break the news of their relationship. Alice gave him a small nod, telling him that it was time.

"Honey, can we talk to you for a second?" Alice gave him a small smile, even though she was scared to death inside.

She had never told him about a relationship before, with nobody. He had always been the only man in her life, and right about now that was about to change for good.

"What's up?" Charles looked up from his book, thinking it was just a quick thing before he could continue.

"Your Dad and I need to tell you something." Alice looked at FP once more, who gave her an encouraging smile.

She dat down next to him on the couch, while FP sat down on the chair next of the salon table.

Alice opened her mouth to finally reveal what she had been wanting to tell him for weeks, but now the moment was here and it seemed impossible to find the right words.

"Mom, it's funny to see you speechless, but I know what you are going to say." Charles grinned a little.

Alice arched her eyebrow. How could he possibly know?

"That you're together?" Charles cleared up, referring to the secret he had had known from the start.

"Wait, how did you know?" FP asked confused, while Alice's cheeks flushed a dark shade of red.

"If you think you're great at hiding it, think again." Charles shrugged, finding it a little amusing.

"Weeks ago, you both came out of the bathroom with wet hair. I can read those signs." He told them, and noticed how his father was embarrassed now too.

"And I do not believe FP sleeps on the couch. I've been to the bathroom several times in the night, he was never there." He added, which also pretty much confirmed that his father had been sleeping in the bedroom of his mother.

"Okay, I see your point." FP chuckled a little.

"Are you okay with it?" Alice dared to ask, her eyes insecure. She knew this was another big change for him, and she was afraid it would simply be too much.

"It has some getting used to, but I think so, yeah." Charles gave her a small smile.

He had teased his mother about her feelings before, but now it was for real he suddenly realized how big of an impact it had.

"I promise you, I am here to stay." FP said, hoping that he believed that he wasn't leaving ever again.

"I don't doubt that." Charles looked at his father, and read in his eyes that he spoke the truth.

**

After dinner, Charles had said to his parents that he had eaten so much, that he needed to walk it off. They hadn't questioned it, since he was known for eating a lot. Instead, he made his way to the Northside— Elm Street, to be exact. He knocked on the most familiar door there.

"Charles? Come on in." Fred had opened the door, surprised to see him there unannounced. However, he was always welcome.

"Are you alright?" He asked, when he saw him sitting down on the couch with a huge thinking frown on his face.

"Yes, no, yes. I don't know." He sighed deeply and looked at him, almost as if he was trying to read on Fred'a face if there was a right way to react to what he knew now.

"My parents are together." He cleared up, thinking Fred needed that information to understand his confusion.

"They told you, huh?" Fred gave him a small smile. He had never expected for them to break the news so soon.

"And you're not okay with it?" He questioned.

"It's all going so fast..." Charles said, not sure how to finish that sentence.

"Your dad is a good man, you have nothing to worry about." Fred placed his hand on his leg and gave him a sympathetic smile.

"And you will always be your mom's first priority, you know that, right?" He said knowingly. He knew it was his biggest fear.

Charles nodded, but it was halfheartedly. Fred stood up from the couch and walked over to the kitchen. When he returned, he handed Charles over two things.

"Here, have a soda and a cookie." He smiled.

"I love these." Charles perked up a little, and immediately took a bite.

"I know, that is why I always have some at home." Fred chuckled.

"I may not say this enough, but I really appreciate all that you do for me." Charles said softly, locking eyes with Fred.

"With FP returning things have been confusing, but I know I never missed out on a father because I had you. Now I have two dads, which is pretty awesome." His eyes twinkled. He had always thought of Fred as a father, but he had rarely said it out loud.

"You have no idea how much these words mean to me, Charles." Fred teared up, and pulled him closer. He had always seen him as a son too.

Chapter Text

"Al, are you ready? We really have to go." FP called towards the bedroom, where she was getting dressed.

He fiddled with the buttons of his sleeve and adjusted his tie once more, wanting to look perfect for the occasion. Today he was finally going to present his follow up series. The stakes were high and somehow he was more nervous than usual.

"In a minute!" She called back, clearly not wanting to be rushed.

"Does she always take this long to get ready?" FP turned to Charles, who was standing neatly dressed next to him, also waiting for her mother and Fred to come out the bedroom.

"She has been nervous for tonight, don't tease her too much. Or do tease her, but you'll sleep on the couch." He grinned.

"Just when I got mattress privileges? Not risking it, that couch has been killing my back." FP chuckled and looked back at the bedroom door that squeaked open. Fred's head poked out.

"FP, are you ready to see your date?" He asked, giving him a smirk.

"Hell yes." FP was eager to see what she was wearing but he already knew she was going to blow him away.

Alice walked out the room with a proud smile, showing herself in a form fitting baby blue dress that fitted every curve oh so perfectly. It ended just above her knees and all FP could do was look at her with wide eyes, being driven speechless by her eternal beauty.

"Not good? I can change real quick, if you give me a few minutes—" Alice stammered nervously, misreading his silence. She thought that it wasn't good enough for the event, or that he simply didn't like it.

"Hey, don't be silly. You just got me all speechless. You look gorgeous, Alice. Breathtaking." He told her, a loving smile curling on his lips as he pulled her closer by her waist.

"Really?" She wondered, smirking a little too.

"Oh yeah, you have no idea." FP groaned, and wanted to lock their lips together in a steamy kiss, until Fred cleared his throat.

"Keep it in your pants, there is a child watching." He joked, nudging his head at Charles.

FP shook his head in amusement. Later, he would have plenty of time to treat Alice like a Goddess.

"Come, they are waiting for us." He took Alice's hands, and the four made their way downstairs.

**

FP's publisher had rented the chiquest hotel in Riverdale, after he insisted to do the launch there. Riverdale was the heart of his work and he wanted for everyone to come here, and really feel what he had been writing about all those years.

Today was the start of a new chapter in the life of his characters, just right after a new chapter in his own life had started. He couldn't wait for the world to see what he had been going through in this town.

"Are you nervous?" Alice asked, reading the worried frown on his face.

It was almost time, and somehow she could sense that he wasn't relaxing. She assumed that he would be excited, but his hands were shaking a little.

"Yeah... which is weird considering I've never been nervous about these kinds of things before." He said, confused with his own feelings.

This was his natural habit for so long, why would he suddenly get stage fright? He wasn't particularly fond of speaking in front of crowds, but he was used to this.

"Is it because we're there?" She wondered, thinking of how different it must feel to have her, Charles and Fred in the audience.

"I do want you to be proud of me, yeah." FP said softly, blushing just slightly.

"I am. We all are." She promised him, and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Thank you." He smiled gratefully. Her support meant everything to him.

**

Fred, Charles and Alice all looked at the build stage, where FP made his way to the microphone. The chatter of the crowd slowly evened out, making all eyes turn his way. Photographers stood ready with their camera, and journalists started their recording. It was time for the launch.

"Welcome everyone, it's my honor to have you here today, to announce to you that my work here isn't done." He started carefully, feeling more at ease now he was on stage.

"All of you read the ending with the flashforward, showing our characters as grown ups. Finn and Annie ended up with a son, which all leaves you hanging with a lot of unanswered questions," He continued, as he eyed Alice for a brief second. She smiled at him.

"And though I'd like to take credit for that, it's my son Charles who came up with that brilliant idea." He told them, making Charles smile really bright.

"He's over there, together with the two people that I consider my family." FP gestured to the people in the crowd, and all eyes turned to them.

"Frank and Annie, or better said, Fred and Alice." FP smiled at them, feeling ever so grateful that they were here today, supporting him in any way they could.

People started to chatter, everyone seemingly confused that these characters were real, and more importantly, that FP had a son. It was tons of new information, but FP didn't care who knew. He loved those three people and he was ready for the world to know.

"The stories you've read have never been fiction. They were our story, full of miscommunication, pain and regret." He continued, visibly emotional.

"But not anymore. There is just joy now."

FP looked at the three people who had changed his life, and in the back of his mind was his best friend, Hermione Gomez, who had helped him through all those painful years.

"You might wonder how Finn, and me, ended up back in Riverdale. To find out, I present to you the follow up of our stories: Charles Comics."

FP finally took of the curtain and showed the artwork for the first edition of his new story, which he was prouder of than anything else he had ever made.

Charles' mouth fell open. The crowd was loud, but he heard nothing. All he saw was the present meant for him. A gift from a father, one more meaningful than he would ever be able explain to him.

"It's my great pleasure to give this honor to my son Charles and the mother of my child. I love you both dearly."

**

FP walked outside, being in serious need of a breather. Fred, Alice and Charles had gone into the big garden adjacent to the hotel, to get away from everyone who wanted to talk to them. They didn't care for that, all they wanted was to enjoy this moment as a family.

Charles' eyes lit up when he saw his father walking their way. He wasn't even sure what to say to him.

"You named it after me?" His voice cracked a little, afraid to cry in front of them.

"Are you okay with that?" FP asked, almost a little insecure.

Instead of giving him an answer, he listened to his impulses and hugged his father as close as he could. FP quickly embraced him back and held on as much as he could. He was truly starting to feel like his son. There was only one way for Charles to thank him, and so the following words naturally left his mouth.

"Thanks, Dad." He whispered.

"You're welcome, son." FP whispered back, fighting against his happy tears.

"Did I do okay up there?" He pulled back and placed his hands on his son's shoulders.

"You nailed it." He promised, having happy tears in his eyes.

**

After a long night, Fred had gone home and Charles had collapsed in his bed, being incredibly tired of the day. It had been intense to say the least, but FP felt relieved.

The world knew.

Every question about Gladys he had avoided, she didn't matter anymore. To him, she wasn't more than a demon that had held him back for way too long. All that mattered was that he had family now, one he'd proudly show off.

Through all the pictures and interviews, you'd think that FP was distracted, but there had been one thing that had caught his attention like nothing else. Alice had barely said a thing during the whole day. He believed it was because she was overwhelmed, but the longer she stayed silent, the more concerned he grew.

"Hey, you've been quiet all night... are you okay?" He took Alice's hand to tug her his way when she was about to turn to the bathroom. She seemed to purposely try to avoid him, which was another sign that something was clearly off.

Alice looked at him, his eyes so sweet and inviting that she couldn't do anything but be honest with him. He deserved that. No more lies.

"You seemed so comfortable tonight. You were glowing." She said quietly, smiling slightly.

"Yeah... it felt great to have control over my own work again. I am excited to create a new story." He told her, almost a little hesitating because he wasn't sure where this was going.

"Don't you like it?" He asked, having no idea how to read her facial expression. Something was heavily weighing on her mind and he wanted to know what it was so he could take all her worries away.

"I do, I think that's wonderful, but..." Alice sighed deeply and let her hands fall out of his.

"But what?" He wondered innocently.

"This, this isn't me, FP. Fancy dresses, high heels, going to these kind of events, standing in the spotlight like that... that is not what I want." Alice gestured down to her appearance and looked at him with painful eyes.

She had never been a woman like that and today made her wonder maybe that is what he longed for. Someone to stand next to him, who would look the way she had looked tonight, only real.

Alice couldn't go through a life where she was pretending to be something she wasn't, and all she wanted was for him to know who she really was, before they'd be unhappy forever.

She was oversized shirts, tight denim jeans, tons of necklaces and a thousand rings around her fingers. She was comfy clothes for on the couch, for sneakers and black boots, for natural make-up, for having her hair up in a bun if it wasn't working for her. And she liked it that way. But FP? He wasn't that, she believed.

"And you, you don't belong on the Southside anymore. I don't want to force you to be there when you can be happier somewhere else. Somewhere you're more free."

Alice's voice cracked, but she truly believed that if she loved him, she couldn't be able to hold him in this small town, while he was meant for the big city. It was simply something she couldn't offer him.

FP's eyes welled up, her words cutting his heart like a knife. She really loved him so much, that she was willing to let him go. She believed he expected her to be everything that she couldn't give him, but she had one important thing wrong. FP had always seen her as the woman she was when he fell in love, the woman she still was.

"Al, if you don't like these kind of events that is more than okay. You don't have to go there with me. Hell, if you hate these dresses then you don't have to wear those either. I don't care if you come there in your Metallica shirt and ripped jeans, whatever you feel good in. You are perfect the way you are." He told her lovingly, taking a step closer to her, so she could look into his eyes as he said the following.

"But if you do really think I am happier somewhere else, then you must know you're wrong." FP said in a firm whisper.

He placed his hand on the right side of his chest, right over the fabric of his button-up. Alice followed his movements as a tear escaped the corner of her eyes.

"Here is my Serpent tattoo. And there is yours." He took the last step her way, closing the gap. He raised his other hand and softly stroke her thigh, exactly on the place she had gotten the serpent all these years ago.

"This is where I want to be, Alice. Where I belong. Nothing will change that. I've never felt this free from the moment I put on my jacket again." He told, his eyes visibly glossing over.

It was moment that was imprinted in his brain. The way his arms and back were hugged by the leather, welcoming back as if it had been waiting for him alone. Something right there and then clicked, telling him that he was home.

FP had never really hated his suits, or his tailored pants and dress shirts. They were alright, and after years it became a habit to wear. But nothing would ever beat the way he felt when he wore his jeans, flannel and Serpent jacket. That is who he is.

"I'm willing to go through another sixteen years of misery just to have you at the end, Alice."

"You remind me of who I was but mostly of who I want to be." He slowly wrapped her arms around his waist, as he spoke to her in a soft whisper.

"But do you want that to? Do you want to be with me? Because if you don't love me the same way I love you, please tell me now." FP swallowed.

In a matter of seconds, he could hear if he had been fighting for something that wasn't there. Maybe those wounds were just too deep.

"You think I don't love you as much as you love me?" Alice took a step away from him, and let out a scoff.

"For the past sixteen years I've never loved anybody else, FP. And I could think of a thousand excuses of why that is, but it doesn't matter what I tell myself. It's because of you!" She exclaimed emotionally, giving up the fight against her tears. FP looked back at her, confused and overwhelmed.

"I've loved you all this time, every single second, of every single hour, of every single day." Alice said, her voice breaking emotionally.

"So don't come and tell me that I don't love you the way you love me." She tried to be mad, but she had to look away from him to stop crying and give her moment to clear her tears.

"You've loved me all these years?" He asked innocently.

"Weirdly enough, yeah... I did." She looked up back at him again and gave him a soft smile.

It wasn't until this very moment that she realized that the reason all her relationship hadn't worked out was because in the back of her mind, he was still there. Always.

"I don't want you to hate me for turning your life upside down." She said quietly, the guilt still eating her alive. FP pulled her closer by her chest and sighed quietly.

"Al... we've turned each other's lives upside down since we were teenagers. I don't hope that's ever going to change. It's been a rollercoaster, but I do want for every day to be an adventure with you. That's what I love about us." He told her lovingly, his eyes sparking.

"You amaze me every single day, FP. I love you." She declared, and took his face into her hands to kiss him.

Chapter Text

Alice strolled her way into the living room of her apartment, thinking she would find FP there trying to make some breakfast, or simply with a cup of coffee on the couch.

Instead, he was sitting fully dressed for the day at the round dinner table with tons of papers on them, that he seemed to be trying to organize.

"What's all this?" She gestured to the chaos on the table, and the first sound of her voice that morning seemed to make FP realize that he wasn't alone anymore.

"Bills, divorce papers, new idea's, sketches, press invites, some mail from fans that Hermione send over here... it's a big mess." He sighed a little, but continued to dig through the pile to make some sort of sense of it.

"Do you need my help?"

She sat down in the chair across of him, figuring that if they would work together, the mess would be organized real soon. They would have some time for the two of them today, if she would give him a hand.

"No baby, you should enjoy your day off. I promise you I'll be done before we have to go Charles' spirit week." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles without stopping to dig through the pile with his free hand.

"We are a team now, FP. You don't have to do these things alone anymore." Alice told him, as she sat down on his lap to get his attention. FP stopped his movements and let his hands rest on her waist, a place they'd rather be.

"Sorry, old habits die hard." He gave her a soft smile.

During his marriage, it was either Gladys taking full control or him taking advantage of the days she wasn't there so he could finally do things the way he wanted to.

Now he was happy in love with someone who was his equal, and somehow it made him even more embarrassed that he had let Gladys walk all over him for years.

He had never been a pushover, or shy for that matter. He had power and authority, he knew that. It was more and more reason to see how big Gladys' impact had been.

Alice would never try to walk over him, she'd always be right by his side. He was getting used to that and he couldn't wait for the day that it all felt natural to have such a loving and supporting partner.

"I'm glad to have you, Al." He said softly, pecking a sweet kiss on her cheek.

Her hair tickled his face a little, but he didn't mind as long as he could smell her hair. It made him feel like he was home.

"Feels pretty good to be this power couple together. Just like we used to be." He smirked at her and tightened his hands on her hips.

Alice giggled and took his face into her tiny hands, before kissing him deeply. Alice had never felt like that before. Being a power couple with him sounded pretty good to her.

As she kissed him, she let her hands travel from his cheeks down to his chest, where she stopped midway when her fingers traced the little piece of exposed collarbone. Even with her eyes closed and her lips chasing his, she could feel a scar there, one she hadn't noticed before.

She unlocked her lips from his to look at the piece of skin her index finger was tracing and FP gazed at her with soft, innocent eyes.

"You have these scars here... what happened?" She asked him quietly, her eyes never leaving his piece of damaged skin.

"Car accident, years ago." He told her, his hands softly stroking up and down her side. FP wasn't sure why she was looking at the scar like that, but he let her be for a little while.

"Was it bad?" Finally, she looked up to meet his eyes.

For some reason, he could see that she had tears swimming in her eyes, as if she was crying for the hurt that the scar had caused him.

"No big deal, just left a little mark." He said lowly, making sure she knew that it didn't hurt anymore.

She looked at him with bedazzlement, hurt and something deeper and more
meaningful than FP could understand.

He wanted to tell her that the scars on his body didn't matter, that it had all been temporary and that it would never compare to the scars on his soul, that he believed would only slowly fade over time.

But Alice couldn't let it go. She slowly unbuttoned his flannel, freeing his bare chest for her to look at. She carefully pulled it aside in her search to new scars. Right above the waistline of his jeans, on his right side, she noticed a deeper one.

"And this here?" She traced the scar with her fingers.

For a reason FP didn't quite understand, he found the gesture more intimate than anything else they had ever done before.

"Operation scar. Got my appendix taken out." He said.

He had been twenty when it happened and the thing he remembered most is the way he felt incredibly ill right before it happened. It was a distant memory now, one he didn't care about anymore, but Alice seemed to feel differently.

"Al? Are you alright?" He asked her, his eyes filled with worry.

"There are so many things that I don't know about you." She said in a whisper.

Alice realized more than ever that those sixteen years apart between them were years filled with memories of joy, pain, hurt, all without each other. She doesn't want that anymore. She doesn't want them to make memories without each other.

"You can ask me anything," He told her lovingly. Anything she wanted to know, he would tell her.

"Did you ever had a chance to escape your marriage?" She wondered.

FP looked into her watery eyes, and wasn't sure if he could call those escapes. When you are drowning in a toxic marriage, escaping isn't that simple.

"I've had a lot of chances to be unfaithful, or start an affair... but I never did. I think those could've been a possible escape from a death grip that wouldn't let go until I was gone." He said, as his hands stroked up and down her side.

FP realized because of her question that somehow, he didn't understand why it was that he couldn't betray her. Was it the brainwashing? Was it because she was crazy manipulative?

"I've always stayed loyal. I never once cheated on her." He looked Alice in her eyes, and while he felt stupid for not getting out of Gladys' grip earlier, he could honestly say he had been a good husband till the end. It was worth a little something.

"Do you wish you had?" Alice asked, her voice a soft whisper.

"A part of me, maybe. But I only feel that way because it's like some sort of revenge, and I don't like that side of myself. I'm glad I stayed faithful, because now I know I did everything to make it work."

FP gave her a soft smile. Even for a woman he didn't love, he had fought. Now he was with someone who had every piece of his heart, and he would fight a thousand times harder.

"Those women, did you love them?" Her voice trembled slightly, and she hated that she couldn't mask her insecurity.

"Are you scared I did?" He wondered, seeing right through her. She nodded.

"I did not love them, Alice. They were nothing more than a possible way out."

"I left my heart in Riverdale, remember? With you." He sweetly kissed her cheek.

"But I can tell you, it was hard not to run sometimes. Sixteen years is a long time." He sighed quietly and pulled her closer, loving how cosy it felt whenever she sat on his lap.

"I want to know it all. I want to know how your past sixteen years have been." Alice said, her voice confident and warm.

"Will you tell me yours?" He asked in return, his eyes sparking with a new kind of hope. They were not only going to be each other's future, they would be part of each other's history now too.

Alice nodded slowly. She had no secrets for him, not anymore. She wanted a life with him that was all about honestly and clarity.

**

They had ended up twisted in bedsheets, but this time not for anything physical. They would have a lifetime to do that, but instead their naked bodies were wrapped up in a warm, safe embrace. He had his arm around while she laid her head on his chest. The feeling of his fingers tickling her spine gave her a warm glow, one she never wanted to get out of.

"You have even more freckles than you used to. It's beautiful." FP hummed as he gazed at her.

"And these scars on your back?" He traced her porcelain skin, feeling the tiny little scars there, that must have a story.

"Being a Serpent comes with risks, you remember." Alice said quietly.

She believed for it not to be a big deal, mostly because she had never known better. As a woman leading a gang she had a lot of enemies.

"Did someone do that to you?" FP pushed himself up his elbows, giving Alice no other choice but to sit up against the headboard with the sheets pressed against her chest.

"I know you can defend yourself, you always have, but I hope you know that you have me to protect you now, too." He said lovingly, as he took one of her hands into his own and felt how warm it was. The touch of her hand made him feel safe, too.

"I love you." She pecked a sweet kiss on his lips and smiled a little to herself.

Alice wasn't one to rely on protection of anyone else, but knowing that he was there if she needed him was comforting. It made her feel loved.

"Are there other things about you that I don't know about?" FP asked curiously, thinking that since they were revealing stories, that there were more things that she'd like to share with him.

Alice looked right into his sweet and inviting brown eyes, before making a decision. She had always kept people at a distance, afraid that they would come close and see who she really is, afraid that it would make people run away. Some parts she simply kept for herself. But FP was a part of her, and so she knew she could show him everything.

She reached over to her nightstand and opened the drawer, before taking out a worn-out notebook. It was enclosed by black leather that had ripped open because of drought, and the pages were a vintage yellow color. FP guessed that it was from back in the nineties.

"What's this?" He asked softly, when she handed it over to him. He was afraid to open it without her giving a sign of approval.

"I... write." She confessed, her cheeks blushing a pinkish shade of red.

Alice gave him a small nod when he looked at her with a question in his eyes. FP saw this as his cue to slowly open it, to see what was in there.

"They are mostly poems, sometimes some thoughts that barely make sense to me, some are letters that I never sent out." Alice looked down at the notebook in her boyfriend's hands, who was carefully turning pages as his eyes floated over the words.

"Letters addressed to me?" He asked her gently, when he noticed that his name came up quite a lot at the start of her letters en poems.

"It's no big deal." Alice shrugged a little uncomfortable, and though their naked bodies were enveloped and protected by the sheets, she had never felt more exposed than ever.

Nobody had ever read her notebook. It made her feel childish and vulnerable and even showing it to FP felt frightening.

"Alice... this is beautiful." FP's eyes stuck to the pages, trying to read as much as possible so he could understand all that she had been carrying with her when he wasn't around.

"Write with me." He looked up at and spoke in a soft, confident, whisper.

"What?" Alice breathed out, completely confused with what he meant.

"For Charles Comics. Write with me." He repeated once more, a smile slowly curling on his lips.

"You really think I can do that? Do you believe it's good enough?" Alice asked insecurely, while she gazed down to her own words again. She had never considered herself a writer before.

"I want to write our story, together. I want to hear every single thing about your past sixteen years and get it down on paper the way you are comfortable with. I want this story to represent the both of us, to give us closure, but more so because it makes it real. Something was always missing from Southside Comics. It were you and Charles. You were my missing pieces." He declared lovingly, taking one hand in his own to give his words more power.

"Okay." She said softly.

"Okay?" FP wondered, hoping he had heard her right.

"Yes, I will write with you." Alice started to beam, and when FP's eyes started to twinkle she knew she had said the right thing.

"Don't you think it will be too much? What if we get tired of each other?" She was afraid that this collaboration could drive them apart, but FP only knew how close together this was going to bring them. He believed, and he was going to make her believe too.

"I am counting on you being tired of me for the rest of your life, baby." FP grinned, making Alice giggle. He was right. It would be fine.

"Come, we've got a sprit week to go to."

**

It was crowded at Riverdale High, but that only meant that the students had done a very great job at organizing their yearly spirit week.

From little booths with food, to presentations of art, pep rally's and flashmobs, everything was there. Charles was very proud of everyone's work, especially since he had been the head of the committee.

Fred, FP and Alice had come together to support him and make a contribution for the charity of this year, which was the orphanage right at the border of the town.

Back on the football field they had a bunch of family games to do together, where from one of them was a little cart race. The carts were made by people who had taken a woodwork class, and would be donated to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy at the end of the week for the kids to play with.

"Dad, will you do this game with me?" Charles' eyes started to twinkle.

"Absolutely." FP grinned brightly. Having his son call him dad would never get old.

However, right before they were about to turn to the start, FP caught a glimpse of Fred in the corner of his eyes. He looked hurt and disappointed, but tried to mask it with a smile. It was a classic Fred thing to do, pretending to be fine so he wouldn't hurt his loved ones.

"...What if we do it with the three of us? After all, it says father and son race. Last time I checked you have two incredible ones." He said to Charles, loud enough for Fred and Alice to hear.

Fred's eyes softened as his friend turned to look at him.

"Fred? Are you in?" FP asked, giving him a warm smile. It would mean the world to him to be a team together, not only for the race, but as both of Charles' father's.

"I would be honored." Fred said warmly, fighting the tears of joy he was holding in.

He never had the chance to have a kid of his own, but because of Charles he had never missed out on that feeling.

Alice had filmed the whole race, as she watched the three most important men in her life with a proud smile on her lips. She knew they would always protect her, and she'd do everything to protect them. She had a real family.

**

"Mom, look at what the Serpents did for the carwash!"

After the race, Charles tugged his mother away being eager to show her how much the teenage Serpents had worked to raise money. It gave Fred and FP a moment alone, which is something they needed.

"Hey, thank you for what you just did out there." Fred knew it it couldn't be easy for FP.

He had gotten the sixteen years he had missed, and hearing how your best friend had taken his place for so long must be hard to process, especially when things would've been different if he had known.

"I am the one who should thank you. You took care of my boy for sixteen years. It may have been out of my powers, but through it all you were there. You made sure he wasn't missing out on a father. In a way, Charles is your kid too." FP smiled at his best friend, someone who he would now call a brother. He would gladly share the two most important people in his life with him.

"I can't believe it's easy for you that all of this changes so fast. Hell, you know it wasn't for me. But I am happy to have my family now, which you are a big part of. I think Charles is pretty lucky to have three parents." FP added sweetly, not noticing that Charles and Alice had made their way back, and overheard his words.

"I am. I've got the best ones." Charles said, as he smiled lovingly at his parents before pulling them into a tight hug.

Chapter Text

FP's eyes fluttered open and for a quick second he believed it to be morning, until he saw that the only source of natural light where the stars and full moon instead of the rays of sun that usually woke him up.

He wanted to close his eyes again and pull Alice's warm body closer, but when he reached for her his hand landed on the empty mattress. She wasn't in bed anymore.

Instead of turning around and letting it go, he listened to his gut and got out of bed. He shuffled into the living room with squinted eyes, but then he saw a light being on, next to the couch where Alice was sitting with her knees tucked to her chest.

"What are you doing up?" He asked quietly, not wanting to startle her.

"Couldn't sleep." Alice hadn't heard him, but when she looked up to meet his eyes she smiled a little.

"Are you writing?" He asked her, as he noticed the notebook on her lap and the pen in her hand.

She nodded. She hadn't been able to sleep and to ease her mind she decided to write, something that had always helped her ever since she was a teenager.

"Another letter to me?" He tried to joke a little and took a glass to fill with water, thinking he might as well ease the thirst that had woken him up in the first place.

But Alice stayed silent, and when he looked at her he realized that he had hit the bulls eye.

"Wait, it's really a letter to me?" He asked a little confused and insecure, and made his way over to the couch to sit down next to her.

"Is there something in there that you can't tell me? That you are too afraid to share?" FP took her hand, to somehow show her that he was willing to listen if that was what she needed.

"FP, when I said I was scared, I really meant it." Alice croaked out, holding on this hand even tighter. Everything had gone so fast, and it felt more than she could handle sometimes.

"Sometimes I believe I am not cut out for this." She shook her head sadly.

"For what?" He asked her softly, not following what she meant.

"What we have. I was always free, I've never been in a committed relationship before and I am not sure how to function in one. I try, but it feels like I am constantly failing at everything I do." Alice quickly wiped away a tear that fell. She didn't want to cry, but it felt like a fight she couldn't win.

"It's one of the reasons we blew up. I was in love, but I wasn't ready and now..." Alice stuttered, unable to finish her sentence. And now what? She didn't know the answer either.

"You still feel the same, huh?" FP's hand slid out of hers.

"You love me, but you don't want to be with me." He casted his eyes away from her and swallowed. How stupid could be to ever think that this was their happy ending?

"So, we've been through all this the last four months, for what? For nothing? For you to decide you want to be alone?" FP's eyes welled up with tears and he was almost too afraid to look at her.

"No, FP... that is not what I am saying." She said quietly, cupping his cheek with her trembling hand.

"Then what are you saying Alice? Because I don't understand." FP said, his voice cracking. He wanted to know what she meant, but it felt hopeless.

"I mean that I can see myself marrying you and that scares the hell out of me!" Alice exclaimed emotionally, catching FP by surprise.

"You can?" He asked breathlessly.

"I've never had that before. Having something, someone to lose is terrifying. I don't miss my old life, and I love you so much, but it's the biggest change my life has ever had. It's a lot. Even if I want everything with you."

Alice looked at him with teary eyes. She felt ridiculous, but if she wanted to have a future with him she needed to be honest about every single thing she felt.

"I should feel calm, shouldn't I? Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?" She asked quietly, part of her scared that she was loving him in the wrong way, in a way she wasn't supposed to.

"For the most part, yeah..." FP began softly.

"But, remember what you said when I freaked out and wanted to run away?" He took both her hands in his and squeezed before continuing.

"You told me how terrifying having Charles is. I don't think with us things are any different." He said calmly.

FP remembered that night. He had wanted to run, but she was the one that made him stay.

"You should feel calm when you're with me Alice, you should feel safe, loved, appreciated, cared for. But the only way you know what you feel is real and meaningful is when there is part of you always a little frightened. Not because you don't have faith, or because there is any threat. But because you know you have something that's worth keeping."

FP spoke so lovingly, that Alice couldn't help but smile through her tears. She did feel safe, loved, appreciated and cared for. She felt that more than she had ever done. And it was all because of the man that was holding her hands in a soft but firm hold, telling her that he wouldn't let go, not even if she would beg him to.

"Take it from a guy who has been in an unhappy marriage for a decade. I was never frightened to lose Gladys. I was only frightened to never see you again." He told her.

It was painful for FP to talk about, or to even think of, but in all those unhappy years the thought of never seeing her again had always been his biggest nightmare.

"So, it's okay to be scared? Or that I don't know how to deal with all these things?" She asked him insecurely, her voice a little softer and a little calmer than before.

"Yeah, of course. That's what you have me for. But to tell you the truth, I don't know the answer either. I am terrified to lose my life here too, which only tells me how happy I am." He said, giving her a warm smile. They would figure it out over time, together.

"I am so sorry." Alice cuddled up closer to him, wanting nothing more than his warm strong arms around her, so she could disappear in the dream that he is.

"It's okay, baby. We don't have to self sabotage anymore. We've got the real deal now. And I don't care how hard it's going to be, I am willing to fight." He pecked a sweet kiss on her head and smiled when she held him a little tighter.

"This is all I want, FP. You, me, on this couch, disappearing in a dream I've had ever since I've known you." Alice pressed a kiss over his heart, before laying her head down again so she could listen to the beat that was meant for her.

"It's not a dream. I'm really here." He whispered lovingly.

"I've been incredibly lonely, Alice. And even if we might fight, make up and fight again, our bad days will be so much better than any good one I had before." He spoke softly, and Alice pushed herself back a little to be able to look at him. FP shifted too, so he could look back at her.

"It's hard to believe you love me the way you do." Alice said, her eyes twinkling with her tears.

At times, she believed she didn't deserve someone to hold her, to tell her what she was worth, to always be there. But he was, and by now it was clear that he wasn't leaving.

"I find it hard to believe you love me too." FP smiled sweetly.

"Guess we should just take each other's word for it." He pecked a loving kiss on her lips and extended his hand.

"Are you coming back to bed? We've got a pretty big week coming."

Alice smiled and took his hand, but she couldn't help but feel that heavy weight that was on her shoulders push down even harder. This was not over by a long shot and she wasn't sure how to get through this without suffocating and taking FP down with her.

**

FP just got dressed for the day, and set some plates down on their table for breakfast. He hadn't seen Alice yet, assuming that she was in the bathroom, or was doing some errands after waking up early.

But when he opened the bathroom door, he noticed she wasn't there. He took his phone out of his back pocket and gave her a quick call. No response.

"Charles, have you seen your mother?" He asked his son, who came walking out of his bedroom still dressed in his pajamas.

"No, I thought she was still sleeping." He said, clearly confused. Alice wasn't really one to sleep in, but it could be, right?

"Why? What is going on?" Charles asked, growing worried when he saw the look on his father's face.

"We talked last night, I think she is still a little freaked out." FP exhaled deeply in an attempt to stay he calm.

He had truly believed that things were fine and now he was annoyed with himself that he could ever be so naive.

"Breakfast service!" Fred waltzed in with Pop's take out bags, a big smile on his face.

"The rain is crazy, I'm glad I'm inside." He chuckled a little, and pointed at the windows. It was storming.

"We don't know where Alice is, Fred." FP said immediately, showing with one look that it was serious.

"Really? I couldn't reach her so I assumed she was still getting ready." Fred said, who had called her too this morning.

"Should we go look for her?" He wondered, who looked at the two boys who had the same look on their face.

They had to go find for her.

Chapter Text

The three men were in Fred's truck driving through town to get a sign of Alice. So far, they had no luck. It was almost impossible to see anything through the rain, which didn't make their search any easier.

"She's still not picking up, huh?" Fred asked FP, who was sitting next to him in the passenger seat with his phone to his ear.

"It's been hours, I am worried." FP put his phone away again and exhaled deeply. This couldn't be good.

"We'll find her." Fred promised. They had to.

"What upset her last night?" He asked her, hoping that maybe there was a clue of where she could be.

"She's scared... scared to he happy. Scared to lose everything she has ever cared for." FP said quietly.

He felt responsible for the way she felt and even more so for not being able to see how upset she still was.

"But what would walking away do to help her? This is so unlike my Mom." Charles said from the back, his own nerves and concern for his mother growing with the second.

"Fred, you know her best. Where could she be?" FP asked him, needing there to be more options.

"We've been everywhere. Pop's, the drive in, the Wyrm... Unless..." He looked sideways to FP, before finishing his sentence.

"Unless what?" He urged on.

"There is one other place she could be, but she must be crazy to go there in this weather." Fred said out loud.

"Where's that?"

"A secret spot at Sweetwater River. Not many people know how to go there, I'll lead the way."

Fred immediately turned the wheel to go to the other side of town, and no matter how hard he wanted to find her, he hoped she wouldn't be there. She really wouldn't be alright if she thought going there in this weather was a good idea.

It was still storming when the three arrived at the secret spot, and for a second Fred and Charles weren't sure what to do. But FP immediately made his way out of the truck, not caring that he was getting soaking wet in seconds. Fred and Charles followed his lead and tried to see something through the rain, which almost seemed impossible.

"ALICE?!" FP put his hands around his mouth to be as loud as he could, in a desperate attempt for her to hear him, if she was around. Sadly, it was nothing more than a loud echo through the woods.

"Look, she's there!" Fred pointed afar, where they could see a tiny silhouette of their Alice.

They quickly ran her way and noticed that she had been hiding in an old sewer pipe that had kept her dry. She hadn't heard them coming, which is why she looked up with startled eyes when she saw the three soaked men standing in front of the pipe.

"How did you find me?" She asked quietly, as she got up and got out of her hiding spot.

The rain immediately covered her with cold little drops, but she barely felt them. Not even when her skin was getting blue.

"Please come home with us, you're getting sick." FP pleaded desperately.

"I can't go home." Alice argued, trying to raise her voice above the rain.

"It's too much," She croaked out, her tears mixing with the raindrops on her cheeks.

"I used to be a Serpent Queen, a mother. That is what I am good at, what I can." She stated to plead, making FP, Charles and Fred look at her with soft but confused eyes.

"But now... I am a partner, a writer and the weight of being here for every single woman in this God forsaken town is weighing on my shoulders." Alice tried to wipe away her tears, but before she knew it they were wet again. She wasn't sure where her tears stopped and the rain began.

"I know what you all think. She's Alice Smith. She doesn't break. She never does." Alice clutched her hand on her shirt and squeezed her heart, as if the cotton could be strong enough to hold onto while she was crumbling.

"And for so long, that was true. But I hate that I am not allowed to be overwhelmed, to say no, to not be this untouchable woman." Alice's shoulders shocked as she finished her rant, her cheeks being heated up from throwing it all out.

"I'm sorry." FP said, looking directly at her.

"We're sorry for not having seen that before, Al." He took a tiny step into her direction, not wanting to startle her and risk her shutting them out again.

"We need you, but I realize you need us, too." FP continued softly, seeing the way her shoulders relaxed a the tiniest bit.

FP looked at Fred and Charles for help, he couldn't do this on his own. If they wanted her to come with them, she needed to know she had them to lean on.

"Alice, look at me. You're my best friend in the whole wide world. I wouldn't be here doing what I do today if it wasn't for you." Fred told her, giving her a loving smile through the raindrops on his face. He looked at Charles, who spoke up too.

"Mom? You've been both my parents and maybe I haven't thanked you enough for that. You cared for me for sixteen years, and it's time for me to repay you. Whatever you need." He promised her lovingly.

Alice smiled through her tears, feeling her whole body warm up by the love of her family, no matter the cold of the rain that was now coming through her clothes.

"Al, please come home with us. We want you to be safe." FP gestured for her to come closer, but she couldn't. Not yet.

"You don't understand, FP." Alice said quietly, wiping away some hair out of her face that had stuck.

She sniffed, and FP could see that she had started to cry again, as if he had a special talent to separate the rain from her tears.

"I love you. I really love you. I love you so much that I don't know how to handle it. Everything has been going so well between us, and I don't understand why." Alice's voice became louder and louder, to be more powerful than the ear deafening rain storm that tried to win from her.

"How can I love you and at the same time feel like the universe is going to screw us over again? And even if I would lose you, I can't stop myself from loving you, right now. Do you have any idea how scary that is? To love someone that deeply that you feel you feel physically ill if you think about never being with that person again?"

Alice rambled, as her deep frightened baby blue eyes looked deep into his innocent, warm brown ones. A contrast that completed each other perfectly. There was one thing that she forgot, which was that she wasn't the only frightened one in this relationship.

"I do know how that feels, Alice. I lost you once, and I've been hurting since that very day. Sixteen years without you were complete torture. I wasn't even sure I was able to feel anything else, until I came back. You're the reason I know how to love." He told her, looking at how her eyes softened as he spoke.

"And you know why? Because with you it happens naturally. I don't have to think about how to love you, I just do. That's why we're doing so well, Alice. Loving each other comes easily, and that's how I know I will love you more and more every single day."

He slowly took the last few steps into her direction, doing it so carefully that she wouldn't run away. His arms snaked around her waist, and they both felt the wet cotton of their clothes being pressed together.

"Being afraid of what is happening between us, of something I'd call real happiness, only means you've never had that before. You know it scares me too, but I've got you. You make me want to take every risk in the world." He declared lovingly, before resting his forehead against hers.

Alice closed her eyes for a brief second, wanting to feel nothing but his warm embrace and the rain that tried to break them down.

"I've hurt you so much, FP. You look at me like I'm your whole world, but I don't deserve that. You don't see the evil in me, and I think you should and go before it's too late. I'll suffocate you and I love you too much to see that happen."

Alice sniffed quietly and closed her eyes, afraid the see the look in his eyes. She wanted him to leave before he'd get hurt, but she couldn't see that flame go, the one that burned for her. He took her face into his hands, feeling cold on her wet cheeks. FP needed for her to look at him.

"I know that our relationship isn't easy, Alice. It has never been, and I don't think it ever will. But I hope you can forgive yourself one day. I am trying everyday to do the same, for me. Because if we have forgiven each other, why can't we forgive ourselves?" He looked at her with twinkling eyes, knowing that he couldn't give up before she was safely in his arms again, where she belonged.

"You're not evil Alice. You might see darkness when you look at yourself, but to me you've always been the light on the horizon that led me the way. I promise you, I see you for who you are. It's not me who should see the evil in you, it's you who should see the light in you."

"You're my soulmate, Alice. I will do anything to make sure you can breathe, again." He held her as close as he could, and as he looked at her he could see that something in her eyes changed.

He had never called her that before— his soulmate. And though Alice was a pessimist when it came to love, she had never needed those words more than she did today.

"I am afraid you are my soulmate, too." Alice chuckled through her tears and tightened the grip she had on his soaked flannel.

"Soulmates will always end up together. They will always find a way." He promised, knowing that she needed assurance that what ever would happen, they'd always be each other's destiny.

"Are you coming home?" He asked her, looking over his shoulder to Fred and Charles, who stood together to watch the couple in awe.

"Yeah, let's go home." Alice said, giving him a warm smile.

**

Alice had taken a long hot shower after returning home, giving FP, Fred and Charles a chance to change in something fresh. Fortunately Fred wasn't unknown to rocking the flannel style, which meant that the three men sat in the living room with a cup of tea in their hands in matching attire.

While they were warming up, Alice came walking out of the bathroom, her beautiful golden locks still wet. She was dressed in a flannel of FP and her sweatpants and walked over to the couch to sit next to him. The shower had successfully warmed her up, but she still wanted his warmth around her.

"How are you feeling?" He asked softly, once she cuddled up close to his chest.

"I'm so sorry, I feel so embarrassed." Alice wanted to disappear and forget about today. She felt like a teenager who had thrown a tantrum.

"Hey, hey. There is nothing to be ashamed of." FP assured her tenderly, as his hands softly caressed her wet hair.

"I think that after years of trying to ignore every thing I felt that it sort if explored, like a time bomb." Alice sighed deeply.

Having FP back here in Riverdale had been the last straw for her mind, she simply couldn't take more. She had always kept herself together for Charles, but now FP was here it felt like she couldn't nor didn't have to do that anymore.

"I'm glad to have so many things worth keeping." She pushed herself up from his chest and smiled at FP.

He truly showed her that a little fear was a good thing to have. She was determined to find a healthy balance for herself, so it wouldn't take over no more.

"And I promise, I will continue with all that I am doing. I will just need you a little more." She turned her gaze at Fred and Charles as well.

They had been her biggest rocks for as long as she could remember. Without them, she wouldn't even make it as far as she did today.

"Anything you need, Alice." Fred promised. He'd always be by her side, it was simply how things were meant to be.

"Yeah, we will be here, Mom." Charles gave her a warm smile.

"Do you still want to show them?" FP asked her softly, referring to something they had planned together.

Maybe it would be too much for her, but Alice nodded eagerly. It was the perfect way to turn this awful day around.

He got off the couch and made his way to their bedroom, before turning back with a present nearly wrapped in silver paper. He handed it over to Charles.

"The presentation is at the end of the month, but we wanted you guys to be the first one to see." He smiled at Alice for a brief second before turning back to his son. Somehow, it felt like the perfect moment.

Charles eagerly tore the wrapping paper apart, until the very first edition of his parents' work was right there in his hands. It was there in bright red and yellow colors: Charles Comics. It was reality now, not just a dream.

"Alice wrote it, I made the drawings." FP grinned proudly, and Alice too was excited for the world to see.

It was new for them to work so closely together, but nothing brought them closer than telling their story as a team.

"The very first edition is for you, Charles." FP said, his eyes twinkling with the love for his son.

It was thanks to him that he was here today, and he couldn't be more grateful. This was just the first step to thank him.

"I love you, Dad." Charles said softly, looking directly at him for eye contact.

"I love you too, son." FP said, feeling more confident every single day to call him his son.

"Thank you, for bringing me back where I meant to be." FP said, as he looked around the room to meet the eyes of the three people that made sure that his story in Riverdale wasn't over, but starting again.

But Charles wasn't even listening anymore, because as he turned the very first page of the newest Comic Book, he could feel the start of a new chapter.

Chapter Text

"Let's look over it one more time." Alice opened her folder, with everything she had prepared for her pitch this afternoon.

She was sitting across of Fred back in the Mayor's office. Her nerves were more than she could handle, and so she did what she was a good at— throwing herself into her work.

"Alice, your plan is solid." Fred assured her. He knew that it was a big day for her, but he was going to be there to make sure she felt supported.

"There can't be any flaws, Fred. If I won't succeed then..." Alice sighed, she wasn't even sure how to finish that sentence. There was a heavy weight on her shoulders, one she could barely carry.

"Hey, it will be fine. You're going to seal this deal." He encouraged her once more.

Again, he was staying calm when she was stressing. It was part of their dynamic, and somehow it always worked.

"Don't pressure yourself too much." He said, before giving her a warm smile.

"I have to, Fred!" Alice exclaimed, her voice cracking against her will.

"I don't want to fail these women." She said quietly,

"There are big chances I need to present this plan to a man, who might not understand the importance of the venue for us." Alice had a valid point here and it worried her more than she had admitted out loud.

"Hey, the owner showed interest in your plans already, didn't they?" Fred tried to look on the bright side, to hopefully make her feel more confident.

All she wanted was to create a place for women to feel safe, to come together, to protect one another. A place like the Wyrm, but for women only.

"Yeah, but..." Alice tried to argue with him, but Fred didn't want to hear any of it.

"No buts." He said, shushing her effectively.

"FP, Charles and I will be there. If you don't know what to say, we'll help you. We've got your back, Smith." He promised her, which did make her feel better. She'd be fine, because of them.

"Now, take a deep breath and relax a little before it's time." He walked around his desk and took her hand to pull her up, turn her around and massage her shoulders for a little bit.

"Thank you, Fred. I have no idea what I would do without you." Alice breathed out in relief.

**

Alice had gone home after her meeting with Fred, thinking that the few hours she had before she just needed a good distraction. So, she put her folder into a drawer so she didn't have to look at it, and went to the one person who always knew how to take her mind off things.

FP hadn't complained when she went home and basically attacked him. He had lifted her up and carried her to their bedroom, not even caring where this sudden wave of affection came from, he'd take every chance to worship her.

They were catching their breaths while FP rolled off of her, and she immediately snuggled closer to his chest, secretly loving to cuddle with him after sex. FP instantly wrapped his arms around her and chuckled sweetly, before pressing a loving kiss on her hairline.

Alice giggled, and looked up at FP, her hand raising to softly tickle his stubble.

"You are so cute." She sighed dreamily.

"Oh yeah? What's cute about me?" FP rested his head on his arm, the movement making his muscles flex. Alice bit her bottom lip as she looked at how effortlessly sexy he looked.

"Your crooked smile. Curse that for making me fall in love with you as a teenager." Alice traced his lips with her finger and grinned to herself.

She still knew the first time she had ever seen him use that smile on her. She had been into a fight and had punched the linebacker of the Bulldogs when she was just a freshman, and he had given her that smile when she won.

"Your deep brown eyes," She continued, locking them with her blue ones.

"The wrinkles next to them." She pecked a cute kiss on the side of his head, right over his wrinkles.

"I don't have wrinkles!" FP laughed, as he pushed himself up from the pillows.

"Yes you do." Alice laughed, finding it too amusing that he got so defensive.

"Give me a mirror, I need to see." He opened his hand, and Alice reached for her nightstand to pull out a small mirror.

"I just said they were cute," She told him, still chuckling a little while he tried to check it out in the mirror.

She had never thought of FP as vain person, but she thought it was cute that he was worrying about getting older, while she only believed for him to get sexier with age.

"Hmm, it's kinda sexy yeah." FP smirked to himself in the mirror and then put it aside, to hold her close again.

He loved how she always made him feel better about himself, especially when he had never felt attractive when he was with Gladys. He had always tried to compliment her, to show her that he tried, but he never got that in return. It had made him believe that maybe there wasn't anything to compliment him about.

"You are a dream coming true." Alice sighed happily. There was nothing in the world that made her feel more safe than his arms.

"No, Al... you're mine." He said, before giving her a lingering kiss.

"Bless the Gods out there who thought it was time to bring us back together. It was about damn time." He looked at her with that particular love filled spark in his eyes, that he only ever had for her.

"Come, get your ass out of bed. It's almost time to go." He slapped her butt and wanted to get out of bed to get ready for her meeting, but Alice believed they had a little bit more time.

"Five more minutes?" She smirked wickedly and dove under the sheets, knowing exactly how to convince him.

"You're going to be the death of me." FP groaned deeply, but let her go on, because if there is something he wasn't able to do, it was resisting Alice.

**

"You're going to do great." FP assured her, as they started to drive towards the traintracks, where the estate was that Alice was about to show interest in. He sat behind the wheel so Alice could focus on the last details.

"I'm not so sure, FP." Alice was insecure, which was an emotions she only recently allowed herself to feel.

"My gut tells me so. And my gut is always right about these things." FP told her.

"Just wait until it's a man, then I'm screwed." Alice scoffed.

She was sure her chances were slim to none of she couldn't pitch to a woman. Somehow, she had no idea who the estate was from. The owner wanted to remain anonymous.

"Nah, it isn't." FP said casually.

"How do you know?" Alice was growing suspicious, but FP held a straight face.

"Like I said, gut feeling." He smiled. For now, it was all he could tell her.

They made their way out of the car and saw that Fred was already waiting for the three of them and smiled when he saw the confident look on Alice's face. She was ready to do this.

"Ready?" FP squeezed her hand, as if he could give her more confidence through that particular handhold.

"Yes, I'm ready." She looked at her partner, son and best friend. With them next to her, she could do anything.

They made their way inside, where a woman with long raven colored hair was waiting for her. She was dressed in a bordeaux red suit, and she had a knowing smile on her face.

Alice stopped in her tracks as she looked at the woman, and though she believed she should feel relieved that it wasn't a man right across of her, but there was something about the eyes that were looking back at her that looked so familiar.

"Remember me?" She spoke, her eyes twinkling.

"Give her a few seconds." FP smirked, as he looked at how his girlfriend slowly seemed to process who she was looking at.

"Hermione? Hermione Gomez?" Alice asked confused, barely believing her own eyes.

"Good to see you, Alice." Hermione grinned, and took a step closer in her direction.

"I don't understand." Alice shook her head in bewilderment and looked at FP and Fred for a brief second, hoping to read in their eyes what was happening.

"This is my property, your appointment is with me." Hermione cleared up, which suddenly made Alice realize a lot of things. She turned to face FP.

"Did you do this? Did you talk to her? Is that why you were so sure this was gonna go well?" She asked him, on the verge of getting mad.

"No, I did not." FP said, raising his hands in defense, before taking a few steps into her direction.

"Al, when you told me about your plan and this venue, I convinced Hermione to come here, in person. Not because I thought it would make things easier, but because you would have someone else to believe in you." He explained lovingly.

"Hermione isn't here for me. She's here for you. Only for you." He promised once more.

Alice's shoulders relaxed a little. She wanted to believe him, but it was difficult, especially since she had been doubting herself so much.

"Is that true?" She looked at Hermione with pleading eyes, needing to head the truth from her.

"Sit down, please." Hermione gestured for the chairs and Alice followed her lead.

"FP and I have been best friends ever since we both left for New York. So yes, we're close. I haven't been in Riverdale for a long time and mostly let my associates do all the work around here."

"When FP told me on the phone you were interested, I thought it would be best to send someone, who's unbiased and didn't know you beforehand."

"What changed your mind?" Alice asked, getting a little warmer but still suspicious.

"FP told me a little bit more about your plan. And then I realized that in this case, a bias was necessary to see how meaningful your idea is, Alice."

"What you wrote.... I was both hurt, devastated and blown away. I wish there would be more women making such important initiatives."

"And I think by joining you in this plan, I can be one of these women too. I might be a real estate holder, but I'm sitting in front of you as a woman, too."

"I work in a man's world, something you understand like no other, and I understand this fight." Hermione gave her that sad smile, that somehow told Alice enough. They were in together.

"So, we might have been friends in high school, and yes FP and I have been in close contact, but I'm not sitting here for any of these reasons. I am sitting here because I believe in every single word you wrote and because I want to stand next to you." She took Alice's hand, because she could sense they both needed that.

"Thank you, Hermione." Alice teared up, and her shoulders relaxed. She could feel Hermione was being genuine.

"I had prepared so much to say, but I'm speechless now." She chuckled a little through the tears in her eyes.

"There is one more thing." Hermione said, making Alice quirk her eyebrow.

"I'll donate this building to you. It's on me." She gave a warm smile.

"I can't accept that..." Alice stuttered, being totally overwhelmed that she would do something this generous.

"You can. It's my contribution. I have faith in you." Hermione told her warmly.

Alice didn't have any words for something like this, and so she stood up and walked towards Hermione's seat and simply hugged her close. An embrace between two old friends was all that needed to seal their newfound friendship.

"If it's okay with you, I'll stay around to help you with anything you need." Hermione said, while pulling away from their hug. They were in together from now on.

**

Alice and FP left out of the building hand in hand with Charles happily next to them, while Hermione and Fred stayed behind a little bit. It had been years since they had last seen, let alone spoken to one another.

"It has been a long time since I last saw you." Fred smiled at her, as he decided to break the ice.

"I am glad to be back." Hermione locked her eyes with his and returned his smile.

"Hermione... I want to say so many things to you, but I am not sure how to." Fred stood still and looked at her with puppy eyes.

"I'm the one who should be the one to explain everything." She said, her eyes shimmering guilty.

"But... since I am staying around, maybe we could take our time? Get to know each other again?" She proposed softly, hoping that somehow there was still a chance for them.

"I would love that." Fred sighed in relief. They had a long way to go, but they would get there.

**

"I'm so proud of you." FP said lovingly, as they leaned against the car. Charles had already gotten inside, giving his parents some privacy. Alice smiled back. She was proud of herself too.

FP took her hands in his own and squeezed them, before taking a breath.

"Hey, sorry that I didn't tell you about Hermione before. I thought that if I would, you'd think she'd only support you as a favor to me. But I want you to know that she would never sacrifice her integrity. Everything she said, came from her heart."

"I believe that." Alice gave him a soft smile and stroked his cheek with her finger.

"First, I wanted to be mad, but I could see that this was all her." She explained, exhaling slightly.

"That look, in her eyes. She understands my, our, pain. How awful that may sound." Alice swallowed, and FP held her close. He was glad they were okay.

"I'm glad to have her with us. I want to make a real change." She knew that with Hermione next to her, they would be a great team that could really do something for the women in Riverdale.

"Speaking of making change..." FP started carefully, while looking down at their entwined hands.

"I've thought about what you asked me, about the class, and speaking up..." He continued, slowly telling her where he was going.

"I'm still scared, but I want to do it. For you, for me, for all these teenagers. Even if it just changes one person's life, then it will be worth it." He declared lovingly, confidence twinkling in his eyes.

"I love you." Alice took his face into her hands and kissed him passionately.

**

Charles, FP, Alice, Fred and Hermione were sitting together in a booth at Pop's together, with plates full of food in front of them. They had so many stories to tell Charles about their time in Riverdale High together.

"Wait, Hermione is Halley from the Comics?!" Charles exclaimed surprised, after having swallowed a sip of his second milkshake that night.

"Yeah, she is." FP grinned. He had never said that before, for some reason.

"But Halley dated Frank before... so Fred and Hermione used to be together?" Charles looked between the two as he slowly connected the dots.

"It's a long, complicated story." Fred said, while Hermione blushed deeply.

"It's kinda cool that I know so much about you guys through your work." Charles grinned from ear to ear.

"It's like I've always known you." He smiled warmly.

"From now on, you're part of every story I will tell." FP promised, while pulling his arm around his son.

In that booth at Pop's, were the most important people to FP, who were all going to he part of is future. He had lost a lot in his life, but eventually ended up right where he was meant to be with Alice, Charles, Fred and Hermione.

A/N: One more chapter left!

Chapter Text

1,5 years later...

"I forgot how handsome you look in a suit." Alice hummed contently when FP came walking out of their bedroom dressed in a three piece, finding it physically unable to look away from him.

"Hmm, you think so?" FP smirked and pulled her into his chest, their noses softly brushing against one another.

"Damn right irresistible." She said, pecking what he assumed had to be a cute kiss on his lips, but one she quickly heated up. FP groaned and her lips traveled towards his neck, sucking kisses in his skin.

"Babe, we have to leave in a bit. Let's continue this tonight." He reluctantly pulled her away.

Alice sighed. He was right, but she was still bummed out that they didn't have any time.

"Can't promise I'll be able to keep my hands off you all day." She said playfully, and he gave her a teasing slap on her butt.

"Maybe we'll find a place to sneak off to. But only after the ceremony." He said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I am so proud of him." Alice snaked her arms around FP's neck and sighed happily.

Today was Charles' graduation day, which was a milestone Alice had both looked forward too and dreaded. She didn't want for her little boy to grow up so that eventually her job would be done, making it hard to see him spread his wings to go into the world. However, she couldn't be prouder of him than she was.

"I am still in denial of Charles being so grown, but I can't wait to see him in his cap and gown." She smiled at FP.

"Hey, you did all that. He's such a mature and responsible and loving man because of you, Al." FP said lovingly, his fingers softly stroking her sides.

"By the way, this dress is driving me crazy. You knew that and you decided to wear it anyway, huh?" He looked down at her appearance and smiled mischievously.

For the occasion she was wearing a bright red color. It accented her waist and was still loose around her legs and chest. Comfortable, but classy. Just the way she liked it.

"Gotta keep you on your toes, don't I?" Alice winked, finding it sweet that even after one and a half years of being together, that he still managed to be all over her.

She took his hand to make their way out of the door, until he softly tugged her back. She looked at him confused, but he looked back at her with a soft and calming expression that she wasn't sure she could unravel.

"Before we go..." He stated slowly and reached with his free hand into the inside pocket of his suit, taking out a small velvet box.

He opened it carefully, revealing a ring. He turned it around to show to her, and her eyes started to well up.

"FP? What's this?" She whispered quietly, afraid that her voice would break if she spoke any louder.

FP didn't say anything, instead he took her delicate hand into his own and slid the ring on her finger, smiling softly as he did.

"Aren't you supposed to ask me, go down on one knee?" Alice chuckled a little, before gazing down at the ring again.

It wasn't just any ring. She remembered this one. He used to wear it when he was seventeen. She always used to fiddle with it when they were holding hands, especially if she was nervous.

He had given it to her a few months before he had left, and she had worn it around her neck ever since, even after years apart. He must have taken it from her nightstand. She smiled. Now it was hers again.

"This ring is a promise to be yours forever, Alice." He said lovingly, squeezing her hand in his own, feeling the silver of the ring digging into his own skin.

"You once told me how scared it made you that you could see yourself marrying me. So, you can decide when you are ready, and ask me. I know you like to have that control, so I only wanted to give you this so you know I am completely yours, always."

His eyes shimmered as he looked at her and while he spoke, he knew that there would never be anybody else in his life that could make him feel the way Alice did. Even when she was not there, she had been the one.

"You want me to propose to you?" Alice chuckled sweetly. She found the idea endearing.

"Damn right. It'd better be mind blowing too." He teased, swaying her a little.

"And you know what, even after you ask me, I'll go down on one knee for you, because I know that even though you say you don't care about these things, you'll love that. I will just know for sure that you're ready." He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead, knowing that the gesture made her feel safe and secure.

"I love how you know me so well." Alice sighed happily.

"As if we've never been apart." She gazed into his eyes and gave him a giddy smile, like she was that seventeen year old again that gave her heart to FP Jones. Only this time, she knew that it was the real thing.

"We will never be apart again." FP promised in a whisper.

"I love you." Alice grinned from ear to ear.

"Love you too, my love."

"Come, we have day planned full of adoring our boy."  He pecked a quick kiss on her lips, and then finally tugged her towards the door. Time to see their son graduate.

**

Fred stood in front of his mirror, being too insecure about his outfit. He wanted to look his best on such an important day. Charles may not biological his, but it did feel like his own son was graduating. He shouldn't over think it, and yet he was freaking out.

"This tie? Or better this one? Or maybe—" He turned on his heel to face Hermione, with the two ties in his hands. She cut him off before he could ramble.

Ever since she had given Alice one of her veneus, she had stayed around in town. It could be exhausting flying from New York City to Riverdale, but it was all worth it if that meant making the relationship with Fred work. She had loved him as a young girl, and she still did.

"Fred, they will all look good on you." She assured him, and picked one out of his hands to tie around his collar.

While Hermione started working on the knot, Fred exhaled deeply. He was still as insecure as he ever had been. Maybe if he had been a little bit more confident, they could've had a lifetime together.

"I just want to look my best for you." He told her softly, his cheeks flushing a little.

Fred had never been a big womanizer. Women loved him, but he always poured himself into his work, ignoring how lonely he actually felt.

"You're sweet," She pecked a quick kiss on his lips.

"Hey, we haven't really been talking about what we're doing here..." Fred took both her hands into his own and swayed them a little back and forth, to try and play it cool.

"So I was wondering..." He was afraid to say it, or to ask if this was officially a committed relationship, but Hermione beat him to it.

"I love you, Fred." She said, her eyes twinkling with hope and determination.

"You do?" He questioned, a smile curling on his lips.

"Always have." She told him sweetly.

"God, I love you so much." Fred took her face into his hands and kissed her passionately. He finally had the girl of his dreams.

The doorbell broke the two apart, and when they made their way downstairs to open the door, they saw FP and Alice on the other side, already smiling like fools.

"Are you guys ready?" FP asked, but started to grin when he saw the smudged lipstick on Fred's face. It was clear that something big had happened.

"They grow up so fast, Al. Don't you think?" FP wrapped his arm arm around Alice and pulled her towards his chest, laughing a little as they looked at the two lovebirds.

"We're happy for you two. It was about time." Alice said, referring to how they had having this will they won't they dynamic for over a year.

"Charles would agree, he has been trying to set us up ever since Hermione came back to Riverdale." Fred shook his head in amusement. Time to go to the boy they all loved so much, who brought out the best in them.

**

FP, Alice, Fred and Hermione sat in the audience together, surrounded by a bunch of proud family members who were all there to see a loved one graduate. It was a special moment, one you would only get once in a lifetime.

Alice still remembered the day she held Charles for the very first time. She had always known he was a special child, and she couldn't even understand that she ever thought of not going through with her pregnancy.

She had been only eighteen years young, but as soon as she looked at him she knew she was never going to feel alone again. He was going to be her friend, the one she'd protect with her life.

But that little baby was grown up now, and he no longer needed protection. He was going into the world, spread his wings and become the man she had raised him to be. It was all she had ever wished for, and yet this day was tough on her.

"And now to get his high school diploma: Charles Smith!" Principal Wheaterbee introduced him, and on cue the audience clapped loudly while he picked up his diploma.

"That's my boy!" FP put his hands around his mouth to shout loudly, making Charles laugh as he heard the proud exclaim of his father.

"Hey, are you okay?" FP turned to Alice, who's eyes were welling up. Her smile had faded, but her hands were still clapping as if she was functioning on an automatic pilot.

"I'm going to have to let him go, aren't I?" She said quietly, smiling a little when she made eye contact with Charles on stage.

FP stopped clapping and took her hand in his own. The gesture made her look at him, and he could feel his own heart sink as he looked at her.

"This is Charles we're talking about. He'll always be with you." He promised her lovingly.

If he had learned one thing the past two years, it was that Charles and Alice were inseparable. No distance would ever change that.

"With us." Alice said, telling him that there was no I, anymore. They were a team. FP smiled gratefully. He was still getting used to that.

**

Charles walked over to his parents right after the ceremony, with one of the biggest smiles plastered over his face that he had ever had.

"Honey, you look so adorable in your cap and gown." Alice hugged him closer, which was a hug Charles gladly fell into. He held his mother close.

"That's exactly what an eighteen year boy likes to be called: adorable." He chuckled a little when he pulled back, but he truly understood what she meant. He could feel that today was hard on her, and truth to be told it was for him too.

"Thanks Mom." He kissed her cheek, making Alice beam with happiness.

She loved how he never had any hard teenage years, and how he never had taken any distance from her.

"We're proud of you, buddy." Fred patted his shoulder.

"Made it thanks to you, you are the best Math tutor in the world." Charles laughed. They had been studying for hours, and eventually he had made it.

"And you know, everything you've done for me the past eighteen years as a father has helped me get here too. Thank you." He said emotionally, as he looked right at the man who had been by his side ever since he could remember.

"My pleasure son," Fred gave him a grateful smile, thanking him for being his nonbiological child.

"Alright, I gotta go. I'll be home on time." Charles made an attempt to turn around, but FP softly held him back.

"Before you go to celebrate with your friends... we want to ask you something."

Charles looked back at him with curious eyes. FP turned to look at Alice, Fred and Hermione who smiled back at him.

"With you going to college a lot of things will be changing. So, before you go, we would love to take a trip with you to New York." He said, hoping that Charles would like that.

"It might not have been the happiest time of my life, but it still feels like home, to both me and Hermione. We really want to go there as a family."

He was looking forward going there with the five of them, so he and Hermione could show them all that they had achieved there. He was certain they were going to love the city.

"Dad, are you serious? That is so cool!" Charles responded extatically. As a child they had never been on much trips, but New York was definitely on his list.

"But you are already paying for so much, I can work more shifts this summer to pay for my plane ticket and—" Charles started to ramble, feeling guilty of the amount of money his father was spending on him, especially since he was going to pay every cent of his college tuition.

"Don't be crazy. Everything you make is your own, boy. I'm your Dad, I love doing these things for you." He pulled him closer and grinned.

He knew Charles was still getting used to having someone cover everything for him, but little by little it was getting better.

"Speaking of New York..." FP said knowingly, and looked at Alice as he drifted off. Alice gave him an encouraging smile.

"We have something important to ask you." He turned back to Charles, who didn't think there could be anything more to come after this surprise.

"Okay, what is it?" He asked curiously, when his father stayed silent.

"We've been drawing, creating and writing so much as a family the past two years, and now you're eighteen, I can finally ask you if you officially want to become co-creator of Charles Comics."

"Wait, really?" His eyes grew wide. Him, as an artist? Having his own comic books, the ones he grew up with?

"You have a real talent, honey." Alice said sweetly.

Ever since Charles had started to draw with his father, his skills had come back to the surface. FP wanted that for his work, and one day it would all be Charles'.

"If this is something you want, we're going to figure it out how to balance this with school, but I hope you will consider it."

FP knew he was asking a lot from the eighteen year old, but he simply had to ask. Creating stories with his son and Alice had always been a dream he had ever since the first day he sat foot in New York. Back then he didn't have either, and now he has both. It was close to becoming his reality, and not something he would dream of when he closed his eyes at night.

"I don't know what to say. Southside Comics has been such a big part of my life, this feels like a dream." Charles was rendered speechless.

Ever since he had read the very first comic book, he had a dream of making one of his own and now his father was handing it to him.

"Believe me, it's real as can be." FP promised, his eyes twinkling with love and hope.

"I'd love that, Dad. I love you." He jumped into the arms of his father who chuckled happily.

"So, when are we leaving for New York?" Charles beamed. He had all he had ever dreamed of.

A/N: You've made it to the end of  The Art Of Us!  This is a story that for some time I thought belonged in my drafts because it didn't feel good enough, and I didn't believe people would enjoy it, so it warms my heart that you did love this story. It was definitely an ode to the origin of Alice and FP in the  Archie Comics . There are several things in this story that were important for me to tell, and I hope that came across. To me, they definitely have their happily ever after in both Riverdale in New York. Thanks for your support!

Hopefully you will stay around for my next story as well. I am having such a blast writing it and I can't wait to hear what you think. It's called  It's Nice To Have A Friend  and focuses on Alice, FP, Fred, Mary and Hermione in their twenties, living across the hall of one another. I will post the synopsis later!