Somewhere in America, a young man's killer was just found.
Somewhere in America, a teenager couple just found out they had a baby on the way. And just funnily enough, this somewhere was the exact same place.
Betty and Jughead sat silently staring at the results of a blood test in the quiet hospital room. Both opened their mouths to speak and then quickly shut them. "Well I guess my parents can't get any more disappointed in their daughters right?" Betty tried to laugh at her comment but her ghostly face scared Jughead, who looked at her compassionately, "I'm sorry love" he whispered quietly to her and grabbed her hand to hold. She shook her head, "Don't, don't. It doesn't matter, right? We don't have to even talk about it, the decisions made." They both stared at each other wide eyed at what she'd spoken. Jughead flinched and then nodded stoically.
"Hi Betty? I'm Dr Jensen, I work with teenagers and particularly girls who are worried about their sexual health. Do you have any questions before I start?" Betty took a deep breath and shook her head, as the doctor grabbed a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, "So in general, have you been feeling okay?" She nods, "Have you felt yourself getting a little winded lately" Nods again, "How about nausea, are you feeling queasy a lot" Nods strongly making the doctor smile slightly, "Alright, well your blood pressure is slightly low but that's normal and not worrying at all at the moment." Helping Betty to lay down, she lifts her shirt up high above her belly pressing gently, "Just take a long deep breath, it's going to be cold," she said while explaining her process and placing the cool gel and the ultrasound over it, turning the monitor on. "So, you're measuring at about 13 weeks, which is out of the first trimester which I'm sure you probably understand why you have a bump growth and have started to notice other changes. At this point it's not legal for me to say termination is an option because you are past the first 12 weeks." Betty tried to hold her tears while nodding slowly, Jughead was stroking her hand and forehead. "I'll get your paperwork and your possible next appointments, if you want to discuss further options, I've attached some pamphlets." Jughead took them from her while Betty calmed down and nodded climbing off the bed.
Getting into the car felt awkward, Jughead's old truck felt like a metaphor for the way their lives seemed destined to go. "I guess we're having a baby?" Betty smiled slightly looking down at the sonogram, "I guess we are" Jughead confirmed grabbing her face and kissing her deeply. "Now let's go and get fries and milkshakes and not talk about this for a while." He said turning the ignition and driving them down the highway turning off at the Riverdale city limits sign. Betty didn't speak the entire time and Jughead spent the entire time drumming his fingers on the steering wheel occasionally stealing looks at his girlfriend who was sullenly staring at the grey sky. Noticing they'd reached Pops, Betty jumped out and slammed the door shut, "I think I might just walk home instead," she said heading towards town. Jughead ran after her to catch up, "Betty wait! Betty! I'm sorry, okay? I can guarantee, that I feel ten times worse about this entire thing, it was my birthday that this happened, but I can't change it and it fucking sucks, but you can't just shut down on me. I'm not your mother, I'm not going to just shove pills down your throat and forget about you!" Betty glared him down. "I will call you, tomorrow when I have had some time to process, until then leave me alone" she shouted and quickly turned on her heel leaving him staring her down.
It was late that night, when Betty was laying in the dark staring at the ceiling and just thinking, her hand subconsciously resting her palm against her stomach. Jughead began prying the window open and climbed in silently, "I was hoping you'd be asleep, you were exhausted at the hospital." He said pulling his jeans off and throwing his shirt onto the floor, as she started moving over, him taking the offered room. "You never listen to me," Betty smiled resting her head against his chest. "Well I'm not planning on starting." He whispered into her ear running his hands up and down his back. "I have something I want you to see tomorrow," he mumbled as they began to fall asleep, "I can't wait, and I am sorry for what I said today. I'm not Polly and I was just having a moment you know?" Betty said, Jughead interrupting her with a kiss, "My dad's getting out tomorrow, I have to go and sign his release, but after that I think he's ah going to be going to Toledo." Jughead spoke quietly unable to say it quite out loud. "But, he's left me the trailer, and I know it's not what you deserve but once I'm working and we have some more money saved; we can look for an apartment, even out of town closer to where you go to college. It's not just some huge mistake we're trying to make up for. I'm making us a life." Betty had stopped nodding by that point and Jughead peered down and saw her eyes were closed tight and her breathing. "I'm sorry Betty, and I'm sorry baby girl." Despite his tiredness, he couldn't stop watching her and thinking of everything they could be. Grabbing his phone, he began writing to his unborn child.
One day, you'll understand why you are so special to me. One day, when you've told me you hate me, you will see why I could never love you more. And one day you will know why you changed me into a man and father that you deserve. And it all started today.