Disclaimer: I do not own any characters. All characters belong to Riverdale

Warning: This chapter includes discription of gang violence.

also gaelic phrases.

Chapter 3

Questions and Answers

Jughead woke up when he heard whimpering and he startled as he realized that the sounds might be coming from Betty.

Jughead looked up and saw her uncontrollably tossing and turning around. He stood up and saw that she was sweating and murmuring something. He slowly sat on the bed and tried to touch her arm.

Wrong choice – the moment he touched her she lashed out and hit him.

"Fuck." He hissed. He had to do something...

"No... no... get off.. please don't." She spoke frantically, still caught in her dream.

He saw her hands curling up again. He had to stop her, otherwise she would reopen her fresh wounds. Jughead didn't try to grab her hands. Instead he took the opportunity as she laid on her side for a moment, cradled her from behind and embraced her tightly. He grabbed her, hold her with both hands in front of her chest, so she couldn't move them anymore, but still careful not to hurt her.

He whispered soothing words in her hear: "suaimhneas... suaimhneas Betts... shhh... Tóg go bog é... ssshhh " Calm down... calm down, Betts...calm down shhh" He gently kissed her hairline and whispered those Gaelic words like a mantra all over again.

After a while he felt her relax again and delicately swiped a strand out of her face and felt the dampness of her tears underneath his fingertips... "It's gonna be alright... it's gonna be alright Betts..." He whispered in her ear like a mantra but it was more like a commitment to himself.

But she heard it.

She acted as if she was still sleeping because she didn't want this beautiful moment to end. But then she twitched slightly in his arms. She stiffened hardly noticeably – not because she felt uncomfortable – because she was afraid of losing the moment of sacred, innocent intimacy. A place she never wanted to leave. A place she never knew could be there.

But against her fears, he stayed, brushed her hairline with a kiss and murmured: "Go back to sleep! I'll stay right here!"

She smiled and confessed: "I am afraid to fall asleep again..."

"Don't be. I am chasing all those ghosts away!" She felt him smile against her back. "Close your eyes now, beautiful", he whispered in her ear and then suddenly he started to sing slowly in her ear:

Do casadh cailín deas orm in uaigneas na dtrá,
Ar lúb na coille glaise uair bheag roim lá.
Sin an fhreagar' ó a thug sí liom go ciúin agus go tláth:
"Tá an saol 'na gcoladh, bogaimís an súisín bán!"
'S má bhíonn tú liom bí liom, a stóirín mo chroí,
'S má bhíonn tú liom bí liom os comhair a' tí,
Má bhíonn tú liom, 's gur liom gach órlach ded' chroí,
'Sé mo mhíle chnoc nách liom Dé Domhnaigh tú mar mhnaoi!

His deep voice, low and lingering. Hearing him singing those beautiful words in an old knowing language, reminded of a of a fare home. Just a blurry vision of how happy her life once was. So pure, so carefree, without the constant suffocating pain and anguish. A life on a fairy green island. Before her pressuring mother, wanted her to be perfect and to get married a man who was the devil inside with money. … his endearing voice sliding her further and further into a sweet world, she once were a part of. She closed her eyes and was glad she could stay at that peaceful place a little longer...

Jughead was awake by the first rays of the sun. He looked at the woman in front of him, her delicate frame, still peaceful, embraced in his arms. He didn't want to leave her, but he had to... he had work to do... If he had the choice he would rather stay here, instead of meeting with the sleaze Italians, to discuss the conditions for their new delivery of Gin and Whiskey. Urgh he hated Hiram Lodge and his companions... But the Serpents needed the collaboration, to keep their business alive. He thought and scoffed lightly.

With a heavy heart, carefully not to wake her he unwind his arms and got up. Jughead decided to left her a note. So he scrabbled hastily the words "I'll be back soon. Please feel free to make yourself comfortable."

After he laid the tiny piece of paper beneath her on the sheets. Then he silently took his coat, his newsboy-cap with the silver crown pin on it and colt from the drawer of the cupboard and with a quick last glance back at the sleeping beauty, he left the room.

As he got downstairs he peeked Sweet Pea in the kitchen.

"Hey Bud!" Jughead greeted.

"Hey, are you meeting up with the Italian? Wait a sec. I'll join then." Sweet Pea said.

"I'd rather prefer if you'd stay here this time! I don't want Betty to be alone in here. " Sweet Pea cracked an eyebrow, but didn't comment on his order. "Alright then. Keep me updated!"

Jughead nodded simply.

"How is the pretty lass doing? I assume she's awake, since you know her name? " Sweet Pea asked then, now standing behind the bar counter.

Jughead turned around, leaned over the counter, put a toothpick in the corner of his mouth and chewed on it leisurely. "Yeah...She's fine I think... pretty shaken up... but under the circumstances,.. I think she's fine... I just don't want her to be alone in here, she might get scared."

Sweet Pea smirked and answered: "You already care about the pretty blonde huh?"

Jughead shot him an annoying look.

" Fuck off!" Jughead said.

"I am going to gather the others and then we'll meet Hiram! I'll be back in a couple of hours I think!" He swung his black coat on, closed the silver cuff links engraved with serpents on his sleeve, put his cap on and left the bar.

Sweet Pea just grinned knowingly and set up some scrambled eggs and coffee.

Betty woke up by the tasty smell of eggs and bacon. She blinked a couple of times and realized she was alone. As she stretched her out, she felt a small piece of paper underneath her fingers and grabbed it. It was a note from Jughead, she smiled as she read it.

She looked around his room. Suddenly she was feeling kind of uncomfortable... Being here alone in his private place...it felt too personal... she noticed a massive mahogany desk with a classy black typing machine on it and some leather - covered book placed beneath it. She was curious she had to admit, but she suppressed the urge of snooping around... Betty thought: Instead she'd decided to follow the destination of this amazing smell.

Betty got out of the bed, not caring that she's still only dressed in her undergarments and got downstairs. She heard some noise as she got there. But when she looked around, she didn't see anyone. The bar seemed empty. "Hello? Is someone's here?" She called a little afraid.

"I am in the Kitchen behind the bar... come here!" An unfamiliar voice called. Betty followed his instructions and found the small Kitchen in the background.

A man who looked very similar to Jughead, turned off the stove and turned around. He smiled politely and introduced himself. "Hello, I am Sweet Pea. You must be Betty," He stated.

"Y...yeah." She stuttered wondering why he'd knew her name. But she figured that Jughead must've told him.

"Breakfast is ready. I hope you Like scrambled eggs and bacon?" Sweet Pea asked.

"I love bacon! Besides that I am starving, so I would eat anything you'd serve me now. " She answered smiled genuinely.

"Same as Jughead... he's obsessed with bacon... He's obsessed with food. He could eat 24/7 a day. " Sweet Pea chuckled.

Suddenly he realized Betty's bareness as she shivered a little. "Take a seat. I'll bring you a powdering gown. It's cold in here and Jughead would kill if he knew I've seen you like this." He said and rushed into another room for it.

Betty blushed immediately after his statement.

After a few second he came back and handed it to her.

She thankfully put it on at took in front of the small kitchen table.

As she took her first bite, a small moan ecaped her lips. Sweet smirked at her. She covered her chewing with one hand, nodded in excitement and as she finished her bite she said: "That's amazing Sweet Pea," She smiled thankfully.

"You are welcome."

After a while, Betty asked: "Where is Jughead?"

Sweet Pea shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not sure how much he'd allowed to tell her. "He'll be right back, He's doing some business." He tried to answer as simple as he could.

"Business?" She questioned curiously.

He sighed and said: "I sorry, but it is not my position to tell you." He shot her an apologetic look and gladly she decided not to push him any further.

Betty decided to ask Jughead later, herself.

In the Meanwhile at the meeting spot with the Italians...

"So I am willing to offer full delivery of Beer, Gin, Whiskey, Absinth, Wine for 100.000 $ Jughead." Hiram leaned back in his chair and took a deep inhale of his Cigar, smiling up him politely arrogant.

Jughead fueled inside. He just wanted to beat the shit out of him, but he stayed frowningly calm.

"Well..." Jughead started excruciatingly slow. "Unfortunately... that is not an option for us sir."

"I cannot offer you any more discount... 100.000 $ or there will be no deal."

"Oh, Hiram..." Jughead started slighty shaking his head, exhaling slowly and shut his cigarette down. Oh Hiram, Hiram Hiram." his words still accompained with the slightly shaking head. Then Jughead slowly stood up and went towards him while he continued: "How often did I have to tell you, that I am not playing any games here. " Jughead, unrecognizable, put his hand on his colt. "So... If I were you I would advise you to not fuck with us... If we are out of the deal you have no one to sell the liquor as good as we do, in the town...The Serpents are your only option here. We are your life line... but you know what?..."

Jughead leaned a little further, supporting one arm on the armpit of Hirams chair, the other still on the shaft of his colt, a slight smirk playing on his face.

The other members of the serpents hold their breaths and waited in frighteningly anticipation, what Hirams next move will gonna be.

Jughead studied Hiram's face. The Italian tried to be unreadable, but Jughead knew he hit the right spot.

"Well as I am reconsidering it,... I might could offer you a further discount of 20% due to the original offer. So it would be 80.000 $" Hiram said.

Jughead grinned and tapped his shoulder. "I knew we would come along! Wise man! So 80.000 $. We'll expect the delivery in three days and you'll get the 15% of our salary. Do we have a deal then?" He asked.

"Yes we have." Hiram only answered dryly.

" Great then! Oh... and before I forget it Hiram." Jughead's eyes darkened instantly.

Before Hiram could react, Jughead violently threw the hammer of his colt against Hiram's temple.

"Just a friendly reminder for our upcoming agreements" He hissed in his ear and put the colt back to his belt. "Come on guys, we're going." The other serpents followed him.

"Fucking snakes!" He heard the sleazy Mafia Boss growling.

"We're Serpents! Not Snakes!" Jughead shouted back, without turning back and going back home.

Just then the door of the bar opened and Jughead stormed in. Betty saw his furious, nearly sinister expression and was immediately concerned about him.

Sweat Pea only said: "Judging by your state, the meeting didn't went as expected?"

"Well it did, but I had to threat the shit out of him and he's still thinking that we are just Irish scums who he can treat as he like and fucking around with! I am so sick of it!" He said and raked his fingers to his hair frustratingly and stomped in the kitchen.

But now he recognized Betty sitting at the kitchen table. His eyes softened within seconds. She looked confused.

" Hey you're up." He said and cracked a smile. "Did you eat anything and did you find my note? I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful." He explained.

She smiled and nodded: "Yes, Sweet Pea seems to be an excellent cook or I was simply starved." She chuckled.

"Really? Jughead smiled back.

"What did he served you for breakfast?" Jughead asked, happy to saw her smile, after the events of the night.

"Scrambled Eggs and bacon...I love bacon." Betty and Jughead said at the same time and smiled after it.

But though she's smiling, Jughead noticed that something was off. Her eyes looked skeptical. "You okay?" He asked concerned. She snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh?... uh yes... just... I'll just go upstairs and put back my dress on, it might be dry again."

"Okay" Jughead answered. Betty went a little quicker than she supposed to in the room.

Jughead furrowed an eyebrow. Then he realized that his coat swung open and his colt was visible. Slight traces of dry blood were still on the hammer.

"Fuck!" He cursed and ran upstairs. He had to explain himself to Betty.

As Betty got in room. Her mind was racing rapidly. As she saw the colt in his belt which seemed like it had been used not long ago.

Who was he... and does it even mattered who he was or had done? He was nothing but kind and caring towards her and who was she to judge. Hell, she might even killed a men herself...Her thoughts got interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"It's Jughead, can I come in for a moment?" He asked.

She took time to steady her nerves and said: "Yes come in!" She turned around and saw him closing the behind him, after he entered the room. The look his face spoke a silent apology, his eyes filled with regret and shame.

He slowly went towards her and started to speak: "I am a Serpent Betty...The Serpent Leader to be specific."

She didn't show any reaction, she just waited for him to continue as he walked further towards her.

"I should've told you earlier...but I dunno. I think I was afraid..." He spoke.

"Of what?" She interrupted softly. Now he stood right in front of her.

"That you might look at me that way you're looking at me now... that you're afraid of me... and... god..." He sighed. "That's the last thing I wanted to happen. " His eyes searching for hers, pleading for absolution.

"I am not afraid of you, Juggie." She said. He looked relieved. She slowly put a hand on his cheek and spoke further: "Why Jug! Tell me... why should I be afraid of a man like you? A man, I would've been dead if he wouldn't saved me... a stranger! Why should I be afraid of a man, who showed nothing but generosity, kindness and care for me?" She questioned him.

He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned into her touch. "I am bad Betty... I am a bad man." He whispered brokenly and opened his eyes.

She shook her head. "I don't believe so... you're a good man!" She said.

"If I would tell you what I have done in the last couple of years, you wouldn't think so anymore."

"I think I would..." She disagreed. "We all have our history Jug... We all had our lives before... we all have done things, we regret or hate ourselves for...I just wanna know who you are... and trust me I won't judge. She declared sincerely.

"I didn't deserve you... and just don't want you to leave... I know we've just met, by somekind of freaking destiny, who'd let you fell unconscious towards my front door... fuck I just don't want you to leave..." He laid his forehead on hers as he spoke. "I'll promise you I will answer every damn question you have... I swear... but please stay." He whispered desperately.

Both of now breathing heavily.

Betty never felt so alive in her life. She was buzzing with emotions. She was confused. She didn't what it meant. She'd known Jughead only a couple of hours now and she already knew, that she didn't want to be anywhere else but here... with him... no matter what he'd done or didn't done... No matter who he are... or he and others called himself.

She closed her eyes and got consumed by this silent commitment to each other.

Then she whispered smiling: "Of course. I'll stay."

He smiled back and caressed her check tenderly.

"But speaking of questions and answers... I have to tell you something, too... " She started.

"What is it Betty?" He asked gently as she slightly hesitated.

"You've asked me what happened and who had hurt me this night..." She felt herself on verge of crying again by thought back to her violently fiance, she blinked the tears away, gulped and then she continued:

"That night I ran away from my fiance... he got really angry...like so many times before... but this time he was really drunk... and he got angry at me again...but this time it was really bad... he was full of rage and disgust..." The tears were falling now. But she had to tell him the full story.

Jughead's heart ached. and was full of fierce rage at the same time, but he didn't say anything now... she needed him to listen.

"Tell me what happened next Betts." He tried to encourage her gently.

"Usually he just slapped me one or to times and then it was over... but this time the beating didn't stop; He hit and hit me all over again. Every time I begged him to stop, it fueled his rage further more. He threw me against the furniture... I seriously thought he'd kill me... then he stumbled... and my mind was racing... I couldn't think straight... I panicked... so I just grabbed the Vase behind me and throw it on his head... I didn't even realized what I had done, until I saw him laying there, sorrounded by blood... and I just ran." Now she lost herself completely. She let her head fall onto Jughead's chest. She sobbed bitterly.

Jughead held her tight, rubbing soothingly circles on her back. "You've defended yourself Betts... " He murmured in her hair.

"But what if might had killed him Jug!? I am a murderer. Oh my god... I am a murderer."

He felt her breathing got erratic again. So he pushed her on arm length, took her face in his Hands and said: "You're not a murderer Betty okay... We're gonna figure this out... I am here now... we're in this together now. Do you hear me?" He questioned.

But before she could answer they heard a gunshot from downstairs. They both startled.

"Was this coming from downstairs? She asked in horror.

Jughead laid an arm around her protectively and said: "I guess so... Betts... I need to check downstairs..."

She shook her head frantically and whinned: "No, no no... Jughead... you'll get hurt."

"I won't! I promise... I am the Serpent Leader, don't you remember? I know how to fight." He cracked her a smile and softly caressed her cheek. "But I need you to stay right where you are. I only can think straight if I know you're safe Alright?" He told her.

She only nodded in response, She couldn't speak.

He quickly brushed her forehead with ones lips, grabbed his colt and went to the door. He glanced at her one last time, before he opened it and went downstairs.

Betty held her breath, she couldn't move and felt her heart pumping in her chest. Suddenly she heard more gunshot and some men's shouting.

Despite Jughead's order she moved towards the door. It's like her body had his own mind. She carefully opened the door and sneaked downstairs: Her breath hitched, as she witnessed the scenario.

A young man with dark hair fought with Jughead. Another was injured, but still tried to fight Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea punched his attacker and the dark, tall man felt to the floor.

Then Betty saw Jughead look at her, as she stood there like Frozen. They stared into each other for a second, his full of disbelief and then a glimpse of angerq.

The attacker sensed his moment of abstraction and took the opportunity, to hit Jughead's colt out of his hands and kick him in hard in the stomach.

The colt flew backwards and landed right in front of Betty.

Just before the Attacker could hurt Jughead further Sweet Pea throw a fist and stopped him.

Then it all happened really fast.

She saw that Sweet Pea was caught in a headlock, struggling to escape and to breathe.

Her whole body was shaking... her mind was racing... she couldn't just stand there, doing nothing... Her blood raced... her heart hammered like crazy in her chest. Then her eyes fell to the colt in front of her and in slow motion she bend down and carefully took the gun.

She never held a colt in her hand, but somehow she knew instinctively how to hold it. It felt heavy in her hands. As she got possessed of another person, she pointed the weapon on the tall man and as she saw Sweet Pea stuggling even more... her mind went blank...

She pulled the trigger...

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