Living Next Door To Alice

24/ Mornings Like These

"Are we eating together tonight?" The Andrews boy asked.

"Sure, why should tonight be any different from other night?" Fred commented, which after months of living together seemed to be like a usual thing. It was almost weird not to have dinner together.

"Oh babe, I almost forgot. I need to stop by work for a few hours." Alice suddenly remembered and reminded the man who was now, finally, her boyfriend.

"So no movie marathon in bed today?" He pouted a little extra on purpose.

"Another time, sorry. I will make it up to you." She promised seductively and pecked another heated kiss to his lips.

"The walls are thin." Fred commented, fighting a grin.

"I'll keep that in account." Alice sassily smiled.

**

After eating breakfast together, Betty and Archie were preparing for school and Alice had taken off to stop by the station. FP and Fred cleaned up together, as they didn't have as much of a busy day.

"What are you smiley about?" FP chuckled a little as he had studied Fred's face for a while now.

"The fact that you are glowing." He said, the smile not disappearing. FP blushed slightly. It was all because of her.

"Come on man, I haven't seen you like that in.... probably ever." Fred playfully bumped his shoulder.

"I feel like the luckiest man on earth, Freddie." FP sighed happily.

He counted his lucky stars that the universe had eventually brought him and Alice together, even if the road had been rocky.

"We're off to school, thanks for breakfast Fred." Betty thanked the father of her boyfriend.

"Did he treat you with respect? I'm watching you like a hawk, Red." FP pointed to his own eyes and then to Archie with a goofy grin. After all, he was just teasing.

"He does, no worries about that." Betty said sweetly, grabbing Archie's hand, who's cheeks flushed slightly.

**

FP was planning to stop by the Wyrm and catch up with some friends of his, but just when he was about to leave he noticed Polly struggling on the stairs with what it looked like heavy bags.

"Hey, you shouldnt be carrying that. Give me." He rushed over to her and took the bags out of her hand without giving her a chance to object.

"I'm not that pregnant yet." Polly chuckled a little. She appreciated the help, but it wasn't if she couldn't do anything by herself anymore.

"Doesn't matter, you're creating a life in there. I am not letting you carry that." FP pointed at her growing baby bump.

"Fred! Can you give me a hand?" He shouted, so he'd be able to hear him. It was almost too much for him to carry alone, he couldn't even imagine how she got this far all by herself.

Fred rushed out of the apartment and took a bag from FP.

"Did you carry this all by yourself?" He asked Polly in disbelief, especially when he felt how heavy the bag he took was on its own.

"I wanted to cook tonight but might have overestimated myself." The girl admitted with a blush on her cheeks. Polly really wanted to be able to do everything she always used to be, but the more pregnant she became the harder it was for her to adjust.

Suddenly, she felt the overwhelming and exhaustion hitting her, as if with taking her bags the men also managed to break down the wall that kept her steady. In a matter of seconds her cheeks were wet from her tears. FP swallowed when he found the crying girl in the hallway, but got himself together real quick.

"Hey, it alright. Let it out." He had put down the grocery bag in front of the open door and wrapped a protective arm around her as he soothed her.

"Do you want some tea?" Fred asked sweetly, inviting her in to take a breath. The girl gratefully accepted the offer.

Once inside, she had a big mug full of earl grey tea in her hand, and slowly calmed down.

"Sorry, sometimes I get a little bit overwhelmed. Pregnancy hormones I guess." She chuckled a little ashamed. It hadn't been the first time, but it was mostly her Mom, Noah or Betty around to witness it.

"Gladys had those like crazy. Not with tears though, just with anger outbursts." FP tried to sympathize with her a little to put things in perspective.

"Hopefully I am not that bad." She smiled a little.

"I'm certain you are not." He assured her, giving her the same warm smile.

"Is there anything that bothered you? Do you want to talk?" Fred offered her a cookie and an opportunity to open up, if she wanted to.

Polly hesitated for a moment, but realized they had told her she could always count on them. Maybe it was time to make good use of that, especially when she couldn't go to her Mom with this issue.

"It's that... My mom has been my rock and I am so grateful for her. But I can't help missing my Dad." She confessed quietly.

It felt wrong to miss someone who had treated her so dearly, but the naive little girl in her hoped that the father she was once so close to was still in there somewhere.

"Why can't I just be happy with what I do have? I have Mom, Betty... and Noah has been more than wonderful. I even have two amazing neighbors who help me out. Why does it feel like something is missing?"

The girl sniffled slightly as her sad broken eyes looked at the two men next to her.

"Because someone you trusted has shown their true colors." FP told her, a sad smile on his face.

He knew like no other how that felt. With one look they told each other a whole story. It wasn't easy, but he had learned the hard way that sometimes you needed to make yourself a priority, even if it hurts.

"We're always here for you, Polly. I know we can't replace te void your father is leaving, but we'll do anything to make this all a bit better for you." Fred assured her, genuinely meaning every word of his promise.

And though the bond with her father wouldn't be resorted that easily, she would never doubt again that she had two people close to her who did support her through everything.