There was nothing that could prepare Betty for what was about to come. She thought that things were getting back to normal. Working on bikes still the best she could but if she couldnt do something she had people who she was training to step in to learn as she walked them through it. Her and Sweet pea had been getting along better since their last couple of fights. Her and Fp met up once a week to touch base about everything going on with her, the gang, and everything in between. She loved having someone she could pretty much call a father. Since he had always taken care of her no matter what the situation. Even when her and Jughead had broken up a couple of times he was still there to make her feel better and help patch things up. Making it so they had always gotten back together. But now was a really big challenge for Betty to handle at the wrong time.
Sweet pea was given the chance to make a large sum of cash. But it was doing the one thing that had got himself and Betty into one of their huge fights the first time. Since Conner was suspended they had to take on letting some of the rookies do the runs. Sometimes things were messed up and a lot of crap was falling onto Fangs. But this run couldnt be messed up. It was a huge deal to Fangs that it be done right so they dont fall into another war with another gang from the East side. They weren't as bad as the ghoulies. But definitely not one you want to mess with when product is messed up. Fangs had talked to Sweet pea already and gotten the ok that he would do it. But only if Betty was ok with it since he would have to be gone for almost a week trekking on foot most of the time making the trip longer. So now the real challenge begins for Fangs as well to convince her that he needed the best of the best runner for the job.
"Hey can we have a meeting?" Fangs messages her.
"Ya. Whenever you want. What's up?" She hadnt been in a meeting with a leader or really at all since she stepped down. Only sticking to her job and doing whatever she needed to in her daily life.
"I just need to ask you a huge favor. Meet at the office now if possible."
"I'm on my way." She had been taking it easy today since it was one of the far and few days she really had off. When she got to the bar she spotted Fangs hanging out with Toni talking about whatever they did as close friends. Toni was sweet to everyone. But her best friends were Fangs and Sweet pea. When Fangs had been told Betty was there he got up and nodded his head to tell her to head to the office. Up the stairs above the bar.
"What's going on?" Betty asks as she sits in the seat across from him.
"I need to ask you a favor. Please don't be mad.." he looks at her knowing when he tells her, there might be a rage of anger from her.
"Sure whatever I can do to help." Noticing he is on edge and whatever he had to say was not going to be something she liked.
"Well it's not really anything you can do. But I need Sweet pea to go on a run. The rookies have messed up a couple of times with these guys and this package is one that can under no circumstances be messed up. With Drama suspended it leaves me no choice but to ask Sweet pea since really most of the time anyone else I wouldnt even be so nice as to ask. But to just tell them to be on their way for the delivery."
Betty looks at him with a blank face. There were so many thoughts in her head. About the last time he did a run. Plus what happened with Jughead. And how it had caused a huge fight last time because she was lied to. But also that the baby could be here at any given time. She needed Sweet pea by her to make sure everything still went smoothly and to have him there for support.
"How long would he be gone?" She needs to at least hear him out to determine if it is to risky or not.
"He would have to travel on foot most of the Evergreen forest to get to the East side. So maybe 4 or 5 days at most."
"And who will be going with him?"
"I have asked that some of the older group to go with. So I have the ok from Kyler, Sam, and Mason to go with to make the delivery." Kyler used to run years ago before he decided that he wanted to do more of the dangerous runs of drugs or weapons. He was a 6 foot 200 pound buff blue eyed blonde. Never backing down from a hard challenge. But never really had any interest in making runs of things that were to easy. Sam worked with her at the bike garage. He preferred fixing up bikes which was more in his intellectual range for fixing problems. He was a smaller guy being 5, 5" and about 150 pounds brown hair green eyes. Mason on the other hand never really had a designated job. But he seemed to always be the guy who came back with Intel when needed. He was very good at stealth and being able to get information, in whatever way needed. He was about 5, 6" 170, pounds brown hair brown eyes. It seemed like the perfect team to go on this run. Someone who could bring information if needed, someone who didnt mind danger, a problem solver, and Sweet pea. A boy who got the job done as quickly as he could, but if he needed to never had an issue letting his anger problems out to beat the crap out of someone. They could probably handle their own out there. As long as it wasn't an ambush.
"What are they taking? And who are they taking to on the East side?" She wants as much information as she can.
"Betty you know as well as I do that I can't tell you what the package is. But it's to the gang called the Griffins. I know you have dealt with them before. They are harmless as long as they get what they want."
"So will I be able to keep in contact the whole time that he is gone? Will the others be able to continue on without him if something happens with me and someone has to go get him. You know he would be pissed if he wasn't here for the birth, or if something happened with me." The last questions that were very important to her in deciding if she wanted to fight him going or not. But it seemed as long as they were smart and the package wasnt messed up it would be an easy run.
"I could find an easier route for them to go on. But it could make them gone for a day longer. So if needs be we can send someone to get him. I'm not sure if he would have signal in the forest. Usually it's not a problem in the Evergreen. Also they could finish out on their own if they have to. They understand the situation. But they would prefer someone who has a lot of experience with the Griffins to help them on the run." Which was true. Sweet pea mainly had dealt with the Griffins when he did runs. It was always a different meet up spot since they never wanted to get caught or lead on where they hung out. They were a big group. But mostly stuck to themselves unless they were messed with or someone needed them on their side to make numbers bigger. They didnt really have a side of who was better or worse in the gang life. They were typically in a neutral spot with everyone. Helping where they could but staying away from whatever they could. If they were messed with they knew how to send a good message to stay away.
"As long as he is back before the baby gets here I cant stop him. The Griffins have never been an issue for me. And you seem to have set up a good running group with him. He would really enjoy getting a break from bar fights and me being so crabby and tired all the time. But dont make this a habit of calling him all the time. I still don't want him doing runs anymore." Betty knew that he would most likely avoid danger in this run. Everything seemed to be lined up really well. So she couldnt say no. Especially since Fangs was so generous to ask them how they felt before just saying do it like he would with anyone else given the situation that Betty was dealing with.
"Thank you Betty. I know I really don't have to ask you anything. But being you were the one who put me in this position because of your situation I feel like it is only respect to you as a former leader." He stood up and gave her a gentle hug. "I know this will be tough for you. So if you need to there is a spare room at my place if you don't want to stay home alone. And you know Fp will let you stay at his house."
"Thank you. I will have to talk to Sweet pea about that. But I'm not sure what I want to do. Out of respect for our relationship I'm not sure if he will feel comfortable with me at your place. But I'll ask. And I'm not sure if I'm yet comfortable staying at Fp's house. Since it's either Jugheads bed, the couch or kicking Fp out of his bed. Maybe we can see if both if you or one of you can stay at my house. We have a pull out bed in the couch. And a spare bed in the nursery."
"Ya. Whatever helps you feel comfortable. I know it will be scary being alone when the baby could come any day. Whatever we can do to ease your mind." He knows it was a very hard choice for her to make. Given everything so the least he can do is help her be comfortable being home alone.
When she got home Sweet pea wasnt there. So she took the opportunity to help him get ready. She knew he would have to pack light. But also pack enough to hold him out for almost a weeks journey. She washed him some fresh clean clothes, packed some snacks small meals that could tie him over, water, and his favorite small blanket that they loved cuddling in so he would feel closer to home. She packed it in her bigger back pack that she had always taken with her on long trips so he had more room for stuff but it wouldn't be too much. She than wrote him one letter for every day she suspected he would be gone. Placing them in his bag where she knew he would find every one in a brand new clean shirt for every day. Like a morning surprise to feel closer to her. As she was finishing and starting to zip up his bag, Sweet pea walked in on her.
"Where are you going? Is everything ok?" He was very confused and concerned. He didn't know why he had walked in on his girlfriend packing a big bag like she was leaving him.
"Everything is fine. Im just finishing packing your stuff." She says smiling at him lightly.
"Why? Im not leaving anywhere." He is still confused because he had no idea that she had talked to Fangs earlier in the morning.
"Yes you are. Me and Fangs talked. I feel safe with you going on this run. He seems to have thought everything out correctly to ensure you and well the others as well, come home safely. I can't deny him letting you run if he asked you to. And made such an effort to make sure all plans are well thought out. He needs you to do this run. So you are going." She says standing up from finishing packing everything he needed.
"No I'm not going. I told him if you agreed I would go. But I can't risk leaving you alone and possibly missing the birth. Its not going to happen." He steps closer to her placing his hands on her arms.
"I will be fine. The baby will be fine. I don't feel like it's coming within the next couple of days. I think you are safe to go. Plus Fangs offered I stay with him to maybe if it happens he can help. Than he will be the first to know so he can get you back here. Or Fp still has Jugheads room I can stay in. But im not sure im ready for that yet. We will be ok here. I promise."
He placed a kiss on her cheek. Than looks at her with such love in his eyes. Admiring her strength and resilience to push past the hard things in her life. To step past the fear and keep going.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Please even if it ends up being a false alarm let me know. Have Fangs come get me, anyone come get me. I don't want to miss this. And I don't want you to do this alone. You can stay wherever you need to feel comfortable I don't want you to get to anxious while I'm gone."