A/N: Hello lovelies!

EPISODE EIGHT WAS SO PERFECT! Everything about it was amazing and not only because Bughead slayed!

So again thanks heaps for all your lovely reviews and words of encouragement! Every single one of them makes me so happy and grateful! I am loving how positive and united the Bughead fandom is, you guys are great!

Anyway this is quite different to my other oneshots structurally, but I quite like it. Basically a series of "missing"/ "fill in the gap" moments from episode eight, featuring some B and V friendship as well!

Enjoy and please keep sending in suggestions! xx

Betty was on her way to cheer practice when an arm reached out and grabbed a hold of her own, causing her to stop in her path. The blonde turned to get a look at her delay, a soft smile gracing her lips when none other than Jughead Jones occupied her gaze.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" he inquired, eyes flickering around the hall in his typical sign of unease. Betty's brows furrowed in concern but she nodded anyway, allowing him to lead her to the safety of the Blue and Gold office.

"What's up?" she asked, propping herself up on his desk as he closed the door. Jughead hesitated as if unsure what words to adduce in order to communicate his point. If she wasn't so intrigued Betty may have found it comical that he-the boy who was never lost for eloquent words- was now stumped. Finally the distressed teen seemed to come to a conclusion and moved toward her. By the time he spoke he was standing directly in front of where she was perched on the desk. Her breath hitched as she took him in up close; green eyes, dark hair, lean body.

"Veronica called me your boyfriend." He stated bluntly. Betty raised her eyebrows at him, imploring him to throw something else into the now silent room. When he just shrugged she decided to offer up her answer instead.

"She did. Is that okay?" Her stomach was suddenly a butterfly cage, nerves attempting to throw her judgement with respect to what his answer would be.

Jughead grinned at her, moving even closer now to place his hands on either side of her thighs where she sat. His eyes were bright with a satisfaction she had only seen twice before- when he had kissed her the first time and then after she had kissed him.

"It's definitely okay with me. Is that okay with you?"

Betty nodded, an intimate smile developing on her lips. His eyes followed its presence, and her breath hitched yet again as she noticed his attention to her mouth. A second later his mouth was the one paying hers the attention. His warm lips crashed upon hers in a passionate kiss. His lips yielded her own, portraying his affection for her through his action. Betty responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, groaning a little into his mouth as his tongue gently traced her lips. One of his hands was stroking her thigh now and it was leaving a very welcomed path of tingles in its place. Kissing him like this, as his girlfriend, was absolutely electrifying and empowering and right. It made a happiness previously unknown jolt through her, further dazing her. Eventually the pair broke apart sharing gentle caresses and sated smiles as they stole a moment to bask in this new development in the story that was them. Taking a second to find joy and hope in something positive and beautiful, something bright and not yet tainted by the corruption so rife in their town these days.

A shrill alert rang through Pop's diner as Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge crossed the threshold. The fairer of the pair, Riverdale's resident girl next door, was illuminated with a beaming smile, casting more light on the small space than the cloud obscured sun rays that were trying to break through the windows. Her eyes scanned the booths quickly hoping to zero in on a familiar beanie peeking out. She spotted it without much focus, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.

"V I'm gonna-"

"Go tell him girl, I'll order us some shakes," Veronica cut her off. The raven haired girl gently pushed her friend in the direction of the aspiring novelist who was mere metres away from them, laughing at Betty's enthusiasm as she practically skipped off, before turning to the counter. She was thoroughly enjoying seeing this side to Betty, a breath of fresh air that was void of the toxic stresses she had been enduring as of late.

Betty reached Jughead's table in no time, sliding into the booth next to him and drawing his attention. He smiled as soon as his eyes registered her and was immediately captivated by the happiness evident across her features.

"Well hello," he said with a raised brow and a curious smirk as he inferred her buzzing demeanour.

"Guess what!" She exclaimed in pure giddiness, her eyes positively shining with the emotion. Jughead felt a warmth bleed into his heart at the sight, quashing some of the darkness that was decaying the organ and infecting him with her light.

"What?" He entertained. Betty's smile grew even wider if that was possible, her hands clutching his forearm.

"Polly asked me to be the baby's Godmother!" His eyes widened in recognition of how significant that was and a grin broke out across his own face as he moved his free hand to grab hers where it was still gripping his forearm.

"Betts that's amazing, really! You are going to make the best Aunt and Godmother any kid could hope for, and this kid is damn lucky and will know it," he affirmed, falling further into her bright sanctuary as her green eyes softened at his words, displaying how touched she was by the sentiment.

Veronica returned a moment later, smirking as she noticed her friends' close proximity on their side of the booth.

"One strawberry milkshake as promised," she announced, sliding in across from them and placing her purse down next to her. Betty gave her a warm smile and light thanks in response, sipping on the sugar infused drink daintily.

"So I'm assuming our girl shared her fabulous news with you," the native New Yorker questioned the enigmatic boy, gesturing to Betty with a slight nod. Jughead shook his head in confirmation unable to keep the appraising look from his typically passive expression as he noticed Betty's body perk up again at the further reminder that something good was happening to her.

"She did indeed, it's awesome."

"It is- B I'm so happy for you," Veronica said genuinely to her best friend, trying not to let her brown eyes linger on the way Jughead's fingers were playing with Betty's where they rested, lighting her persona even more. She catalogued the action though to share with Kevin later, very much liking the way Jughead was enlivening Betty and encouraging her small victories.

"Thanks Veronica for… everything. You and you're mum have been so wonderful to Polly and to me and it means a lot." Veronica nodded humbly, revelling in the feeling of being selfless and actually helping someone for a cause greater than herself and her own personal desires.

Jughead knocked on the door of the Cooper residence, praying it was Betty who answered the door and not her intimidating mother or possibly murderous father. He stood in anticipation calling upon his placid persona- hands in pockets, casual lean against wall or any upstanding object. The door creaked open and he let out a slight sigh of relief when his blonde haired girlfriend slipped out the house. He took a moment to roam his appraising eyes over her. She looked beautiful with her hair mostly down, curls falling against her shoulders, her makeup light and accentuating her gorgeous delicate features. She was clad in pretty, yet still conservative floral blouse and a black skirt with a pair of heeled boots on her feet. And oh god did she look good. He couldn't help his gaze from drifting to her long tan legs, which seemed to go on for miles causing him to swallow audibly as a slight hunger came forth. His gaze climbed back to hers, holding it steady as she blushed slightly under his examination, tilting her head shyly to the side with a crooked smile, as her own eyes took him in. He looked extremely dapper in her opinion, his sweater was smart and she quickly concluded that she loved him in red.

"You ah, you look gorgeous," His words came out a tad breathless as he shifted his weight so he was standing before her. His smile was so genuine, epitomised by the innocence and candidness of his comment, making her heart stutter.

"Thanks, you don't clean up so bad yourself," she returned as they slowly made their way down the drive way, hands gravitating toward each other, fingers linking naturally.

"I thought we established that already?" Jughead teased, his expression quickly becoming cheeky to contradict his dry tone. Betty rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help the small chuckle that fell from her lips.

"I didn't realise you were the narcissistic type Juggie." He just shook his head in reply, moving to rest his arm around her shoulders as they walked, pulling her further into his side. Betty leaned up and kissed his cheek sweetly. She was only caught slightly off guard by the innate motivation of the gesture. She hadn't really thought about it at all, she had just done it like a knee jerk reaction. The concept brought a smile to her lips; the natural way they fell together and connected flooded her body with warmth that made her realise she had been cold until now, until him. She revelled in the knowledge that they were simple and well fitted and natural. She finally found something in her life that was controlled, and unconditional.

"Thanks for coming with me by the way," Betty said after a few minutes of comfortable silence had passed between them. Jughead smiled down at her, leaning in to peck her lips before shrugging nonchalantly.

"How could I turn down free food?"

The night, starting out pleasant and seemingly innocent had quickly been consumed by vulgarity and poisoned with complication and tension. Jughead thought the sky currently represented this notion very well, morphing from a subtle sunset glow of blushing hews to an ebony canvas, void of stars, the moon shielded by brooding clouds; full dark no stars. He fought an amused smirk at that. Now wasn't really the appropriate time to be entertaining Lodge quotes.

Betty and Jughead were currently walking home from the trailer park, silence hanging over them. It wasn't tense, rather it felt almost exhausted; neither one quite knowing what to say. Her affirmation of belief in him had been enough to quell his fears of judgement or doubt on her part after Archie had so brashly mentioned his father's current unsavoury line of work. But he could still feel the weight of the evening pressing down on them. Drama was fast becoming the usual forte of the town, rather than an anomaly and it was tiring.

"I actually think that's about as well as I could have pictured my dad meeting my girlfriend going," he finally said after much contemplation on what words should be ejected into the atmosphere; sardonic, yet light hearted humour won out. Betty gave a small laugh in response, turning her stunning green/blue orbs on him.

"Better than breakfast with my mother anyway," she joked back, flexing her hand in his.

"Your right, drug and murder interrogations are much better 'meet the parents' topics." Some of the seriousness that was hanging in the air around them had been dispelled, allowing each of them to breathe a bit easier.

"Seriously though Juggie, I meant what I said back there and at the station last week- I believe you. I trust you, more than anyone right now actually, and I want to be a part of your world. All of it. No matter how messy it is. I'm not going anywhere." Her words were so utterly sincere, infused with such strength and an almost yearning for him to absorb them. Jughead couldn't help but stop her in her tracks, pulling on her arm so that she halted and faced him. He placed his strong hands on her waist, admiring the way she fit in his arms.

"I know Betts and I really am sorry. I promise I won't let my juvenile ego or stubborn pride keep anything from you anymore. I believe you. I believe in you." The typically sardonic teenage had dropped his voice to a quiet, raw tone. One that made Betty run a hand adoringly over his cheek and tilt her head up to place a sweet kiss on his waiting lips. Their mouths moved in succinct harmony, communicating their promise in a language much more powerful and sensual than their words could hope to do. When they broke apart, Jughead took a moment to admire her beauty up close; eyes shut, dark lashed fluttering against her soft cheeks, small smile highlighting her lips and making his pulse race. When her eyes opened they looked right into his own and for a moment they were bare, souls interlinking delicately, moulding around one another and mending the tears that had previously lain there. In that moment they were okay. In that moment they were whole.