I know Christmas in the US is in winter but I'm writing it as if Christmas was in Summer! Sorry if that confuses you, I grew up with Christmas being either hot or cold, anyway enjoy.
:::
"Happy Christmas Eve!" Jughead yelled happily, as Josie opened the door to Archie and Veronica's house.
"Oh my god, look at your belly!"
Cheryl's squeal was at level that only dogs should be able to hear. Betty winced: bracing herself for the impact as the taller redhead threw herself at her mounting stomach.
At eighteen weeks, Betty had sufficiently ballooned-or at least she thought. There was no more hiding her pregnancy, her bump gave it away.
"I know, huge right?" Betty frowned, but couldn't help the smile that started to spread on her face. Her belly was just big enough, so it wasn't making her uncomfortable. While her stomach wasn't uncomfortable- her boobs and feet hurt that when Jughead hugged her that morning, she burst into tears because of the aching of her body and Jughead wasn't sure what he'd done.
(Jughead love her little belly. He was waiting for it to be further on in her pregnancy so she can balance her cereal bowl on her stomach, because to him there was seriously nothing cuter)
"You're the cutest pregnant woman ever", Kevin told her, placing his hands ever so carefully on Betty's stomach. "Hey there babies! Hopefully your mommy and daddy are going to name one of you after me. You want to be named after your favourite, don't you?"
"Favourite my ass." Archie scoffs, walking past the group to the barbeque area- dragging Jughead along with him.
"yeah, we all know that's me". Veronica grins, kissing Betty's cheek. "Hey Betts! How are they treating you?"
Kevin pulled Betty's shirt up, and before Betty could try to smack his hand away- they were all looking at Betty's little pregnant belly.
"That's so cute!" Josie cooed.
"Are you coming swimming?" Toni frowned at her.
(She had her bathing suit on, and while her stomach was still small she wasn't one hundred percent on getting in the water unless Jughead went in to- so potentially it was up to him whether the go swimming.)
"It's like a hundred degrees, who isn't going swimming?" Joaquin protested, coming out of the house without his shirt on. "More so, why aren't we in the pool right now?"
"Betty's unsure" Jughead stated. Pointing her out.
"There's no need for that, he knows who Betty is"
"Come on Betty, I'll push you in" he raised his eyebrows at the stubborn female.
"I'm going in" Cheryl agreed. "Come on Betty boo, I did when I was pregnant".
She stared at the redhead- one because of the nickname she hates that had stuck and two because she was giving into defeat and simply took her dress off, walking over to the gate with Cheryl and Joaquin following suit.
Jughead being Jughead, whistled once he saw her walking over to where he was in the pool beer in hand and was mid conversation with Archie.
"Come on in baby, I won't splash" he winks at her and she eases herself into the water.
In an instant she was clinging to Jughead's side- literally she had her legs around his waist and arms around his neck, the two engaged in a very strong conversation- whilst the others around them watched the couple, cooing ever so slightly at their cuteness.
:::
After their swim the group were all wrapped in towels, and were on the deck surrounding the pool with their wet hair dripping down their backs and their plastic plates on their laps. Jughead was eating Betty's leftover food that she couldn't eat while she cosied up to him her back against his chest and her sunglasses over her eyes because she claimed she looks shitty.
"Your toes are very festive Betts" Cheryl commented, as she came and sat with her and Jughead.
"thanks". She gave a small smile. "Jug took me out for a surprise yesterday and I got a pedicure", she wiggled her toes. The red, green and white glittered nails shimmering in the sunlight.
"You're such a cute pregnant person" Veronica said again, as the three were now on the beach chairs, watching their family in the pool, shoulder wars and all, Cheryl and Jughead against Toni and Archie- it was a nice night off for the others who had kids and they were able to enjoy their fun day.
Kevin was quiet for a moment, which was unusual for the brunette. "these babies may have a cousin", he almost whispered and if anyone weren't listening, they couldn't have heard it.
"You're getting a baby?" Veronica squeaked in excitement . And Joaquin nodded.
"We're hoping to adopt" he agreed, unable to wipe the smile of pure happiness of his face.
"You can name them Archie" Archie enthused and Jughead pushed his shoulder. Betty walked over to Kevin and Joquin and wrapped them in a three way hug.
"Parenthood is the best thing you'll ever do" Betty told them, earning nodding approvals from the others. "Seriously, I never thought I'd say this but it's like a little piece of your heart running around, only outside you're body"
Kevin smiled gently, hugging the small blonde "You're an amazing mother Betty, if we can do half as good a job at parenting as you and Jug do, I know we'll be doing it right".
Kevin Keller had brought tears to Betty Jones while talking about having children- the younger duo would never have thought.
:::
"Fireworks!" Josie squealed her inner child coming out as the sky light up.
They each took their seats on the beach chairs, with their partners staring absent mindedly at the sky as it changed colours. Each and everyone of them had a sparkle in their eyes.
"I love fireworks" Cheryl said, her grin growing even wider.
"Hey, babe, you okay?" Jughead put his arm around Betty and she put her head on his shoulder, nodding. "You've gone quiet all of a sudden. What's on your mind pretty girl?"
"Brody loved fireworks" she said softly. "I'm just thinking about last Christmas"
Jughead broke into a smile. "They both did- Maxie loved the sparklers, they were her favourite"
"Until she dropped one and got scared", Betty laughed, remember the tiny screams that followed.
"Are they okay?" Archie nudged Veronica's side, motioning towards Betty and Jughead.
"Yeah, they're okay, I bet they're just remember the kids, Christmas was Max's favourite"
"She and Allie loved the sparklers, Al says she misses her bestie though" Archie replied, smiling at the memories of his daughter and his best friend's daughter being similar in age and best of friends like him and Jug. He still remembers the day when Jughead called him from the hospital saying that Betty was violent in labour and he was scared to walk in the room without something being thrown at him- he didn't understand at the time, but a month later when Veronica was in labour with Allison he had called his best mate and apologized to him for laughing when he had called, because he was experiencing the same fear his buddy had.
"I miss them together" Cheryl smiles, thinking that her new baby would have been so loved by her cousins.
"I do too, we all do" Toni says putting her arms around Cheryl and Veronica's shoulders squeezing slightly, "But no one misses them as much as Betty and Jug though"
Jughead stood up, pulling Betty with her and they swayed to the music for a moment, before an idea sprung to Jughead's mind.
"Hey! Let's do sparklers, Arch pass them over!"
And they did. They lit one for Brody who's favourite holiday was Chritsmas.
They lit a sparkler for Maxie, who loved nothing more than to dance around a sparkler in hand.
One for Allison Andrews, who would give karaoke a red hot go- with the encouragement of her best friend.
And they lit one for Paige Blossom, who wouldn't get to meet these beautiful kids but would always be told enough stories; they may just take after one of the two.
"Merry Christmas, guys" Jughead said quietly, Betty smiling into his shoulder, both holding up a sparkler, as the last fireworks floated above them. "We hope you've had a great day, We miss you. We love you."