Instead of dropping Betty off at her house, Jug took the route back to his trailer park. Betty sighed contentedly, stomach not as tense. As they rode through the quiet streets of Riverdale, Betty let her thoughts drift. Hal Cooper was in prison because of the unspeakable acts he had committed. Betty Cooper had a darkness inside her that no one understood, not even herself. She tried to make sense of it, but the more she tried, the more her grasp on it slipped away from her. So, she simply didn't try anymore.

When Jughead pulled up to his trailer park, the wind had blown away the last bit of Betty's tears, leaving her eyes red-rimmed, but dry. Betty slid off the bike with Jughead following suit as she handed him her helmet back. He looked at her, studying her expression.

"Are you okay?" Jughead asked quietly.

She felt a lump rise up in her throat but pushed it down, swallowing discreetly.

"I'm fine," she said.

"Like hell you are, Betts," Jughead whispered, cradling her cheek. She leaned into his touch, seeking the gentle reassurance that was simply her boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around her, resting them on her lower back and placing his chin on top of her head gently. They stood in silence for a few minutes, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Finally, it was Jughead who broke the silence first.

"Do you trust me, Betts?" Jughead asked quietly.

"Without a doubt," Betty replied firmly. She could hear his chuckle and knew he was happy.

"Then, trust me to take care of this," he said. She pulled back a bit, so she could look into his eyes.

"But…how?" Betty asked in confusion. He traced her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb before leaning in and kissing her gently.

"Leave that to me, my dad, and the Serpents," he promised. Too tired to question him, unsure if she even could if she wasn't tired, Betty nodded, and they made their way into the trailer.

XXX

"They graffitied your locker, Betty?" FP Jones demanded twenty minutes later. He was already back at the trailer by the time Jughead and Betty walked in, and Betty had just finished recounting the fiasco that was her first day back at school. Running a weary hand over her face, she sighed, before nodding.

"And, put a dead scorpion in there," she added bitterly, hating the football team more and more. She never used to hate them, having gotten to know them through Archie. If she was being fair, she'd bet it wasn't even the main football players harassing her; just a core group of them that knew Midge particularly well through Moose.

"To be fair, FP, I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same," she added. FP snorted.

"Don't kid yourself Betty," he replied. "You've got more heart in you alone than the entire football team combined."

And darkness Betty wanted to add, but she kept her mouth firmly shut.

"What are we going to do dad?" Jughead asked. "Betty doesn't deserve to feel afraid in her own school. She had enough fear when Hal was tormenting her with all the phone calls and gifts he sent her."

FP nodded thoughtfully, humming a little as he thought his words through. Betty gave him all the time he needed. Finally, he spoke up.

"We'll get the Serpents, and you, Jug, to be with her at all times during the day. And, if your mother doesn't end up killing me for suggesting this, I want you here at the trailer park, Betty. I'll take the couch with Jughead again," FP stated.

Betty sighed. "FP, I appreciate the effort you're taking to make sure I'm safe but, it's alright, really. I can handle myself."

"I told Alice the same thing I'm going to tell you: Serpents protect their own," FP reiterated firmly, and Betty knew this wasn't an argument she was going to win. She looked at FP for a moment, before down at Jughead's thumb, which was rubbing comforting strokes against her knuckles, before eventually nodding.

"Thanks, FP," she whispered.

XXX

When FP had retired for the night, Betty and Jughead went to go sit outside on the steps of his trailer. Tucking herself into his side, Betty leaned her head on Jughead's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. Pressing his lips to her hairline, Betty hummed in contentment.

"Thanks, Juggie," she whispered. He looked at her in confusion.

"For what, Betts?" Jughead asked, and she shrugged, waving her hand around them.

"This. All of it. Opening your home to me. FP helping out until things calm down," she murmured, and Jughead squeezed her shoulder.

"I want you to listen to me very carefully, Elizabeth Cooper," Jughead said quietly. She looked at him, indicating he should continue.

"That's the last time I want to hear you thank me for simply doing my job. You're my girlfriend and I love you. Without you, I'm nothing," he said quietly but firmly.

"You've got the Serpents," she reminded him, but he shook his head resolutely.

"Nothing," he reiterated and she studied his face, eyes flickering over every freckle and line around his eyes. Eventually, she brushed her lips across his once, twice, three times before pulling back.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And, I love you," he whispered back.

They fell silent then, staring up at the stars. For the first time in a long time, too long, Betty felt safe. She hadn't felt safe since…well, the Black Hood calling her the first time all those months ago. Every time she thought about Hal Cooper being the Black Hood it was like a punch to gut, disarming her, and she was left scrambling to find air. She knew she needed to go see him. Again. Needed to remind him, (and, herself), that she was not going to turn out like him. But, a small voice whispered, what if she did? What if she turned out exactly like Hal Cooper? Betty sighed, massaging her forehead.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jughead asked quietly.

"Hal, me, evil, take your pick," she chuckled humorlessly.

"You're not evil," Jughead said firmly.

"You tell me that every day," Betty whispered.

"Then, I'll keep telling you every day until it sinks in," Jughead replied, tone leaving room for no doubt. Betty furrowed her brow, and Jughead reached over and smoothed it back out.

"Take it easy on yourself, Betts. You're doing the best you can," Jughead reminded her. She thought about it for a long moment, coming to the realization that she was doing the best she could. She smiled slightly, feeling a bit of the weight she had been carrying on her shoulders lessen. She leaned forward and gave Jughead a kiss, hoping she was conveying everything she felt that words couldn't. If the smile that had adorned his face was anything to go by, she had. They didn't say anything else, but just sat there, wrapped away in their own safety blanket, away from outsiders, and that was good enough.

Author's note: Brining FP and the Serpents into the mix. Thanks for all who have reviewed so far! Glad you guys seem to be enjoying this one. First time writing Riverdale fanfic, so still new to it. Enjoy! Xxx