Archie had started going running in the morning lately, ever since Mr. Lodge had publicly humiliated him he had decided to work harder and be stronger in order to earn the older man's respect. That is why he saw Jughead's text only two hours after it was sent and looked out to see if she was back in her room. He couldn't see anything so he changed and went downstairs, then instead of going out the front door he decided to exit through the garage. It proved to be a wise decision as he randomly caught Betty sneaking back into her room. The wig was gone, so it was just Betty in a skimpy black dress and unreal high-heels, sneaking through her backyard at the light of day. She looked tired for the first time in weeks and Archie felt relieved to know at least she was still human. He couldn't wrap his head around the attire tho, it wasn't like Betty to go clubbing. He was brought out of his thoughts by a figure moving in the distance behind Betty. While Jughead hadn't been able to identify the man that had meet up with Betty in the back, Archie instantly recognized Doyle, yet found it that much weirder that he was escorting Betty back to her house. He shrugged it off, finished his run in record time then after showering and having a quick breakfest, he finally beat Reggie to her house.

"Hey Reggie!" he called and came up to the drivers side. "Man I was wondering, could you drive to school instead? I want to talk to Betty about something and I wanted to use the walk to school to do it." Reggie looked annoyed and irritated but he tapped his fingers on the wheel a few times before sighing deeply.

"Okay sure, but you better take good care of my girl Archie! Anything happens to her, I am coming after you." Archie swore he'd protect her so Reggie drove off a little hesitant. Betty came out soon after and blinked in surprise to find Archie standing where Reggie usually parked. She gave him a smile anyway.

"Archie what are you- Where is Reggie?" she asked and he shrugged.

"I wanted to walk you to school. You don't mind right?" she arched a brow but shook her head.

"No of course not, we'd have to get going tho." She said and pulled the strap on her bag up a little before she fell in beside him on their walk to school.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked jokingly and pulled back a little to look at him. Archie shrugged.

"We just haven't really had the chance to talk recently." He explained and Betty pursed her glossed lips.

"I guess not… How are you?" He laughed a little, it was so typical of her to ask when really he wanted to know about her.

"I am fine, thanks. What about you, you look great!" he commented and Betty laughed and blushed a little.

"Thank you. I.. I guess I am okay? I mean there is a lot going on right now but I think I am managing." She shrugged but Archie picked up on the distressed note in her voice.

"What is bothering you?" he asked seriously as is he was ready to slay whatever monster stood in the way of her. She shrugged.

"It is not really bothering me.. Well it is." She sighed then babbled it all out at once like usually. "It is just that the trial is coming up and I don't know… There is a lot of decisions to make, and I want to make everyone happy but at the same time.. This is really about me you know? Like it is probably the thing that is more about me than anything else has ever been and that kind of scares me, because now I have to do what I find right and not what is better for someone else." She sighed and gave him an awkward smile.

"It is messed up I know." She said but Archie just shook his head.

"No I get it. Maybe I can help?" he offered and she considered it then nodded slightly to herself as she pondered on the right way to explain her dilemma.

"Well I don't know how much you have heard but Sheriff Keller arrested three Serpent who were.. involved in what happened. Their lawyer want's a settlement but my lawyer says we'll definitely win the case if it goes to trial. I don't know through, trials get messy and I have got so much other stuff on my plate. The easy thing to do would be taking the settlement but then again I don't want to let them get away with it either." Archie was stunned. It was the first time he had heard Betty actually address what had happened and the case at all. Truth was he didn't know much about that stuff but he would try to help her anyway.

"What is the settlement?" he asked and she looked down.

"Well we don't know before agreeing to sit together but bassed on the evedince for trial.. My laywer says we can put them away for little over a year through a seetlement." He frowned.

"A year? After what they did?" she nodded and fidgeted with the hem of her coat.

"The thing is Arch, we don't really have enough eveidence. At least I don't think we do. Luckily they were so busy trying to get out of the kidnapping charges that they admitted to a whole lot of other things but still at most they can go on trial for violence and attempted rape. My laywer says that we can go for kidnapping too and that can give up to fifteen years, but I don't know if I want them to serve that long!" Archie looked at her in wonder.

"Why not? Betty what they did-" he stopped when she visbly shuddered.

"I know what they did Arch, more importantly what they would have done but.. I just, I.." She sighed for a moment trying to pick the right words to describe her feelings.

"Fangs got shot. He totally deserved that but I also feel like maybe that was already part of his punishment? I don't want to ruin his life." She admitted and Archie tried his hardest to understand why she wouldn't want that.

"Like he ruined yours?" he asked her in disbelief and she laughed a small iroic laugh without much glee.

"But that is the thing. I am still here aren't I?" she asked and he didn't know what to say. She was, but she wasn't the Betty he knew. Finally he figured out what to say.

"What DO you want, Betty? What punishment would you see fit?" She pursed her lips in thought for a moment.

"I want them to admit to what they did. I want them to know the pain. I want them to feel what I felt. Not just what they did but what they caused on me too. I want that, for them to really know what they did." She sighed again before she came with a confession Archie didn't predict. "I want them out of prison because I know that the Serpents will give them a better punishment than the lawsystem." She bluttered and he looked at her a little shocked but then he nodded and grabbed her hand, causing her to stop. They had almost reached the school now but he wanted to tell her this last thing in private.

"Betty, whatever happens we are here for you. All of us. And if those dickheads get any less than what they deserve then I'll personally see to it that they will get what was coming for them. I am here for you Betty but you have to let me." He told her, looking deep in her eyes. She swallowed deeply but nodded, tears forming in her eyes. Then she tiptoed and placed a small kiss on his cheek. It was innocent, just a sign of graditude and nothing more.

"Thank you Archie." She whispered then pulled away from him and walked into then school. Archie stood still and felt his cheek. He hadn't expected that but it felt good. Like maybe she had actually heard what he had said.