Falice One Shots by falicewins

No more secrets, no more lies

As he looked into the eyes of the love of his life, the woman he was supposed to grow old with, he realized that he couldn't do this any longer. Instead of continuing his speech his words got stuck in his throat and he walked away.

It perfectly fitted his cover, even when the reason why he stormed off wasn't what it seemed to be for everyone. 

How could he keep this from her? How could all of them expect him not to say a thing? He didn't want to exclude her form something so big, something that was drastically changing their lives. If this would go on a second longer, he'd burst and that could bring their whole mission in danger.

So, he walked away hoping that Betty would take over so he could just have a second to himself. Not because he was too broken to say anything at his son's memorial, but because the look Alice had just given him was eating him alive. No more secrets and no more lies. That was the promise. But now everyone was stopping him from keeping that promise.

The second he walked into the garden and made sure he was out of sight he grabbed his phone to dial a number that he knew out of the top of his head by now. The person at the other side of the phone answered almost instantly.

''Do they buy it?'' Charles asked him.

FP sighed loudly and pinched the bridge between his eyes to not snap at his oldest son. He knew that it was for a good cause, but this wasn't how he wanted his relationship to be, especially not when they didn't seem to trust her when he would risk his life for her.

''They do. Your Mom buys it a little too much. I'm going to tell her.'' FP said as calm as possible as he tried stop his tears from falling.

Every night she was comforting him, telling him that she'd be there for him and now both Jughead, Betty and Charles expected him to just pretend he didn't want to talk about it? She knew him better than that. She could see right through him and it wasn't going to take long before she'd realize that something was off. 

''FP, don't. We talked about this, remember?'' Charles said carefully, knowing that his Dad was about to break, and yelling was something that would work against him. This situation asked for sensitivity.

FP remained silent as he recalled the conversation they had about this a few days ago. He knew and understood the reasons, but it didn't make it any less painful to see his girl like that. This wasn't fair and it went against everything they believed in as a couple. They were past not sharing things, but still the circumstances almost forced him to keep his mouth shut.

''Alice believing about Jughead's death keeps all of you focused. If everyone knows you are pretending to grief your cover will be blown. She's the one that makes sure you don't lack the job you are having now. It's all for the better.'' Charles said quietly.

He had mixed feelings about keeping something from his mother, but he knew that the second everyone in the family knew the truth they would get sloppy. They had to pay attention to every word they were saying as long as she had to believe he was dead. 

If they were being watched it would be more believable if they kept faking their emotions. Besides, Alice was the type of mother that took care of her family in any way she could. Her using her mother instincts to get her family through grief would be their best cover.

''I just can't do that anymore, Charles. We made a promise not to keep anything from each other, ever again. I mean, even Mary knows. I am not keeping this from her a second longer. You should have seen the way she looked out there. I am not going to be the one to break her again.'' FP sighed frustratedly.

Charles his argument was valid, but he'd rather be a team with her than use her for making his own grief more believable. Above that all he knew she was affected by his death too. How could he make her believe that his son died in the first place? How did he ever let it happen in the first place?