I lied, here's chapter 4. I think I've finally settled on having this chapter and then one more, and then this will be finished, which is what I'm doing for The Dance as well, so that I can focus on The Wedding Deal and a new AU that I'm planning because I apparently hate myself.

True to his word, FP had arrived at her home within twenty minutes, barely remembering to shut his truck off before jumping out and rushing up the steps to bang on her front door. She immediately threw the door open, collapsing into his arms without even a thought for what any of the neighbors might think. Northside Alice wouldn't have been caught dead in the arms of another man in plain view. The real Alice didn't give a damn what those people thought. Nevertheless, she sniffled quietly, pulling him inside. She thought about going to the couch and just sitting to talk. She had only just kicked her husband out, and if Betty decided to come back home tonight….

Oh screw it.

There was no point in hiding it, and it wasn't like they were going to do anything tonight anyway. She missed him, and he missed her. It would come out eventually, and sooner was better than later, as they say. So, instead, she led him up to her bedroom, taking note of the sweatpants, white t-shirt, and flannel he wore. His hair was sticking up in different directions, and it made her stomach flutter to think that he had gotten out of bed and come over so quickly just because he was worried about her.

"I'm sorry I pulled you out of bed." she said softly once they were standing in the bedroom, the smell of perfume in the air from the shattered bottles still littering the floor.

"Don't apologize." he countered immediately, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her eyes closed of their own volition as she melted into him, letting her head fall to rest on his chest. She honestly couldn't say how long they just stood there like that, but eventually, she pulled back a bit, pushing her hair back behind her ear.

"I should go change." She slipped carefully from his arms and into the bathroom where she removed the last traces of her makeup. She felt relaxed as she carefully pulled her hair up into a messy bun, stepping back out into the bedroom to grab her nightgown only to stop upon seeing FP now shirtless in the same spot she'd left him. Her eyes roamed his body, taking her breath away just like he always had.

"See something you like, Ali?" his teasing voice drew her away from her staring, and she met his eyes with a spark of desire in her own.

"Maybe." she replied casually, walking over slowly with an extra sway in her hips. She let one hand move up to rest on his chest, her nails gently scratching his skin. His breath quickened, much to her satisfaction, and she gave a smile that was somehow sultry and innocent all at once as she watched his eyes darken with his own desire.

It took all of her will power not to laugh at the look on his face when she suddenly stepped away, his flannel dangling from her fingertips.

"You are evil." he declared with a pout, his eyes still dark.

"Who, me?" she asked innocently, slinging his shirt over her shoulder. However, she got confused when his look of desire changed to concern and what looked suspiciously like anger. "FP-" He was in front of her in three strides, gently cupping her face and running his thumb over her cheek.

"He do that to you?" he asked lowly. Her confusion melted away, and she sighed at the realization that her face must be sporting a very bright red mark.

"Yes." she answered honestly, lifting her hand to cover his.

"I'll kill him." The conviction in his voice both scared and aroused her because she knew that he really would kill Hal if she let him. It was sexy as hell that he would go to such extremes for her, but she was terrified of him going to jail again, especially because of her.

"FP, no." she said quickly, digging her nails lightly into his wrist.

"He hurt you. He laid a hand on you, and I hate that shit." FP growled, still gently caressing the mark on her cheek.

"I know." she replied quietly, flashing back to all the times FP had climbed into her bedroom window, fuming because his uncle had been hitting his wife again and Senior had been forced to go and break it up. The man had been in and out of jail so many times for domestic abuse, but his wife always took him back, and it had caused a deep seated hatred for the man within FP. "But I don't want you going to jail over him. He's not worth it." She placed a soft kiss on his wrist, and he sighed.

"Alright." he agreed quietly. She nodded in satisfaction before stepping back.

"Okay, I'm going to get dressed." she told him. "I'll be right back." Once back in the bathroom, she made quick work of discarding her shorts, shirt, and bra before slipping his flannel on her shoulders and buttoning it up. Checking her reflection one last time, she stepped back out into the bedroom, smiling softly when she saw he had finally stopped standing awkwardly in the middle of the room and had settled on the bed., half laying down and half sitting against the headboard.

His eyes grew dark once more upon seeing her in his clothes, but she knew he wasn't expecting anything from her. He was simply enjoying the view. She wasted no time in turning off the lights and climbing onto the bed before settling into his arms, snuggling into his side and resting her head on his chest as one of his hands tangled in her hair.

It brought back her realization that she had been miserable for so long. She had never felt so safe and warm as when she was in his arms. Hal had never brought her that feeling. And that feeling of safety and warmth is what she'd been missing in her life for so long. The reason she felt the way she did towards her husband, towards the Southside, towards the Serpents. Because she didn't feel safe or secure. She felt open and vulnerable, so she lashed out at anyone and everyone. She had tried her best to work on it, to stop attacking those around her who didn't deserve it. But in the end, she knew that she needed to stop denying who she was in order to truly feel better. She need to stop denying that she missed her past life, that she missed FP.

"I've missed this." she whispered into the darkness. She felt him press a long kiss to the top of her head.

"I have too, Ali cat. And I'm not ever letting you go again." he whispered back, his arms tightening around her to emphasize his point. She pulled away just enough to prop herself on her elbow and look him in the eyes.

"Promise me?" she requested softly.

"I promise." he replied without missing a beat.

And they sealed it with a kiss.

So how many of you are tired of hearing the words "promise me" and "I promise"? I'm not even sure how good this chapter is, but I tried. I'm a little hyped because Madchen replied to my tweet, so you know. Little distracted because she threw some breadcrumbs. Everyone watch tonight if you can cause she's teasing Falice at least being in the same room again FINALLY.