Making Discoveries

By kp004a8561

All rights are owned by CW and Netflix

Chapter 4

Betty and FP kissed their other halves goodbye. FP hung around the doorway of the understairs cupboard until he was sure Alice had gone into the kitchen out of earshot. Betty looked at him wondering what he was up to.

"Psss. Queenie. Fancy taking the hog to the mall?" Betty's face lit up with excitement.

"Really? Won't Mom have a fit about me riding on the back of your bike?"

"Don't worry about Ali, I'll deal with any fall out I promise."

"We better be quick before she comes back."

They both dashed into the cupboard to grab their helmets before Alice came back. Betty loved her helmet. Jughead and the younger Serpents had brought it her to celebrate her becoming their Queen. It was a baby blue traditional style helmet with a glittery Jughead crown on the front. They strode over to FP's Harley. FP smiled Betty was shaking with excitement about riding on his Harley. When Toni had told him that the blonde was the main mechanic on the car that Jug had raced in the drag race he did not believe Betty of all people was a grease monkey but seeing the thrill on her face now he knew it had to be true.

They roared out of the drive making their way to the mall in nearby Greendale.

"That was amazing! Can we do it again another time?"

"Sure kiddo anytime you want."

"So do you have anything in mind for Jellybean?"

"Not really. Something nice. I have been absent in all my kids' lives for most of the time they have existed, I know nothing I buy will make up for that but I'd like her to know I'm always thinking of her."

Betty smiled. For someone who was the ultimate poster boy for the leader of a biker gang, FP Jones had no problem showing his soft underbelly to his family. She was glad her mom had reconnected with her first love. She wished her own murdering psychopath of a father showed he cared that much for his daughters.

They spent the next couple of hours browsing clothes stores, music stores and knick-knack stores to no avail. Just when they both thought it was a pointless mission they came across a new jewellery store that had just opened.

"Come on consigliere, a girl can always do with some jewellery from her daddy."

They looked at the necklaces that were displayed inside the store. The first necklace that caught Betty's eye was silver, the simple chain held a snake pendant that curved into an "s" shape. The snake was covered in small green stones. It was magnificent but Betty knew there was no way FP would buy his 12-year-old daughter anything related to the Serpents, so she continued to look.

"FP is Jellybean still obsessed with acting?"

"Yeah, it's all she talks about. Why?"

"I think this would be perfect for her." His son's girlfriend pointed to a rose gold chain and pendant in the shape of a star with iridescent gems decorating it."

"WOW Queenie, your good taste doesn't just apply to your taste in men. That's it."

"Why don't you go inside and get it. I'm just going to pop to the bathroom."

When the young Serpent Queen returned her future step-dad was laughing and joking with an older man behind the counter. As she approached the man spoke up,

"Well, this must be one of your beautiful daughters now Mr Jones." FP looked at her lovingly.

"That she is Stan. This is my middle daughter Betty."

"Hi glad to meet you." Betty gave Stan a small wave. She was shocked at FP introducing her as his daughter but even though up until the last year he had not been the best dad to either Jughead or Jellybean she found she liked the idea of having FP as a father.

"Anyway, thanks for all your help Stan. It's time we grabbed something for lunch."

With that FP led her out of the store and to a store that looked like it belonged in a Jane Austin novel. FP suddenly looked very nervous.

"Okay. So I had an idea and you can completely say no and I won't be offended. I thought we could have afternoon tea. I know it sounds ridiculous but I want to do something special and I used to come here all the time with your mom in High School. She said all girls dream of being taken to afternoon tea by their father."

Betty smiled he was really trying hard to bond with her.

"Thank you, FP. I think it's a lovely idea."

Within ten minutes of entering the quaint restaurant, they were both sat around a table with different filled sandwiches and a teapot of Earl Grey. Betty had to stop herself giggling at the sight the big gruff serpent drinking tea from a china cup lifting his pinky straight.

"What is it, Betts?" Betty couldn't hold it in any longer and started to giggle.

"I'm sorry. It's just that this reminds me of the tea parties I used to make Jughead and Archie play with me when we were in Elementary School." FP joined in laughing at the idea of Little Betty Copper forcing a Little Archie Andrews and Little Jughead Jones into playing with a bright pink tea set.

"There is something I want to talk to you about. I hope you didn't mind me calling you my daughter when I was talking back there to Stan, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I know I will never win Father of the Year but from now on with me marrying your mom and you one-day marrying Jughead I would like you to think of me as a dad. I'm not trying to replace Hal honestly, it's just, with you being Alice's daughter and everything you have done for my family I already love you as a daughter. I want you to know if there is anything you ever need just say the word, I'll do everything I could possibly do to make it happen. I would offer to adopt you if you wanted but that would complicate things between you and Jug."

"FP, breathe. You didn't make me uncomfortable. I was actually thinking how nice it felt to be called your daughter and how lucky Jellybean was to have you as her dad." FP scoffed at the thought.

"No really. I know you basically went AWOL for a few years but since you got sober you have been nothing but supportive of Jughead, even when you didn't agree with the choices he made. You still had his back without being a murdering psychopath. You might have noticed I've stopped calling Hal Dad. That's because as far as I'm concerned he isn't my dad after all the hurt he has caused. He is just my sperm donor."

FP looked at the teenager in front of him amazed. It was as if he was looking back in time at her mother. The fire, the willingness to do anything for the side of good was a carbon copy of Alice Smith 25 years ago. He thanked the stars that his son had chosen such a girl to be his partner in life if he could just hold on to her unlike he had done with Alice, and he would be a lucky man indeed.

FP reached into his bag from the jewellery store, pulling out a small long box.

"I got you something while I was in the store. As a wise young lady once told me a girl can always do with some jewellery from her daddy."

Betty opened the box. She gasped. Inside was the Serpent necklace that she has fallen in love with.

"I saw you looking at it and thought it would be perfect for a Queen."

"Thank you so much. It's wonderful. You really didn't have to."

"Nonsense. Nothing is too much for one of my daughters." FP fastened the necklace around her neck smiling.

Once they had finished their tea and sandwiches they returned to the Harley in the parking lot.

"Is it okay with you if we make one more stop before we go home?"

"Sure. I'm enjoying my day with you FP. Plus it means longer with your Harley."

"I get it, little girl, you only want me for my hog. I know where my place is at."

They jumped on board, zooming off to their secret destination. Betty was amazed how FP was so much like her beloved Jughead. She wondered how her mom had ever lasted 25 years with the dull psychopath she called her sperm donor when she had once had this witty man to call her own.

They came to a halt in front of a garage miles away from anything else. A man with long hair and a Serpent jacket appeared from inside as they dismounted the hog.

"Hey FP. Is this our young Queen you have here?"

"Yeah, it is. Betty Cooper meet Dingo."

Betty went to give Dingo a firm handshake but at the last moment he turned the back of her hand upwards and kissed it.

"Your Highness," FP growled at Dingo.

"Dingo cut the flirting. She's old enough to be your daughter. Besides, you don't want my son or Alice Smith to come after you, do you?"

"Shit I forgot you we Alice Smith's daughter. Sorry, Betty, I was kidding around." Betty inwardly laughed how this giant of a man could be petrified at the mention of her mom's name.

"It's okay, no foul. What are we doing here anyway?" FP looked at her seriously.

"I have a present for you to celebrate your coronation. Dingo has been looking after it for me. I might need to persuade your mom on the matter but I think you will love it. I know the younger Serpents have brought you your helmet but I thought this might go with it."

The two men led Betty into Dingo's workshop. Inside was a motorcycle painted baby blue with matching glittery crowns on the gas tank.

"OH, MY GOD. A 1957 Triumph TRW 500 Canadian Military. Is it really mine? Can I ride it home?"

FP swelled with pride that Betty recognised the make and model of the bike straight away.

"With that paint job, it's definitely yours. Of course, you can ride it home."

"DANG. Beautiful and has a mechanic's knowledge. Where the hell did Jughead find her? How do you know about this stuff Betty?"

"Fred Andrews taught me. He and Archie were always tinkering with cars when we were growing up so I used to join them."

"The Perfect Serpent Queen. Well, your Majesty if you ever need my help just give me a holler and I'll be at your service."

"Thanks, Dingo."

"Come on Queenie let's get home. Might as well get the ear bashing from your mother out the way."

The pair jumped on their motorbikes, heading back to Riverdale. Betty was in astonishment not only at her bike that handled like a charm but at her day with FP. He had shown her more attention, affection and pride in a few short hours than Hal had in years.

When they pulled up in front of the Cooper-Jones residence Jughead ran down the steps to her, kissing her soundly.

"What do you think Juliet? Is it good enough for my Queen? It looks beautiful."

"I know. It's the second most stunning thing I've ever seen. Only you are better."

"FORSYTHE! WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING BUYING MY DAUGHTER THAT MACHINE."

"Calm down Ali Cat. It's safer for her to have her own bike that she has control of than keep riding on the back of Jug's. It's the safest hog in a two-state area, I got Dingo to work on it before I gave it to her. You know neither of us would let her ride anything that wasn't safe."

"FINE. You better get inside. Your son has worked hard all afternoon cooking for this family and you are not going to thank him by letting it go cold."

Betty raised her eyebrow at her boyfriend.

"You've cooked dinner Juggy?" Jughead shrugged.

"Just some bonding time with your mom."

Next time we find out what Jughead and Alice have done while FP and Betty were out.