Cingulomania

This is a work of fan fiction, no copyright infringement is intended. I own nothing pertaining to the Archie Comics/Riverdale Universe.

…~*~...

Chapter 14

…~*~...

FP was trying to get things laid out for Betty and Sweet Pea before he laid it down for Jughead, they were far more calm and level headed than his own son. He didn't need to have the three of them in a room together learning they would be all the more intertwined in each other's lives than they already were. If he knew Jughead like he thought he did, the boy would no doubt lose his mind, a chair or two may lose their lives for the benefit of the younger Jones' tantrum. Betty was already trying to work out the kinks in this arrangement. Would they move to the Southside or stay in the Cooper home. FP was still trying to wrap his head around the whole situation, he wasn't yet divorced and he was still in court for his visitation with Jelly Bean. The universe had a funny way of kicking his ass. He deserved it though, if he were being honest.

"Forsythe? Hello? Don't you agree?" Alice was asking him something he hadn't heard. He looked from Alice to to Tanis, Tanis smiled at him and looked away.

"Sorry, I was thinking about, well, what did you say?" FP was trying to shake the anxiety he'd brought upon himself away, no such luck.

"I was telling the kids that we would stay put in the Riverdale house, get you and Jughead out of Sunnyside and we would go from there. Don't you agree? Slow and steady?" She smiled at him sweetly, he would have agreed to murder at this point if she'd always look at him that way.

"Anything you want Babe. Slow and steady, do you even know how to go slow Alice?" He winked at her as she blushed slightly.

"Well, sometimes I can be bothered to think things through." She looked down at their intertwined digits, his rough hands in her soft ones. The way they should have always been. She didn't regret her girls with Hal, but she did regret leaving Southside, and consequently FP. They'd really made a mess of their own lives.

"Well, we should really head over to the trailer, talk to my boneheaded son now. See if we can't get into a fight." FP's eyebrows were high on his forehead, his lips tight in a sarcastic smile. Sweet Pea stood immediately, giving their president a hug with a clap on his back giving a silent congratulations.

"We'll see you tomorrow FP. Good luck with Jughead, if you need anything at all Boss, just holler." Sweet Pea was more worried about Alice than FP, Jughead never really did get along with the elder Cooper woman. "Mrs. Cooper, if you need me, please don't hesitate to call me. I'll be there as quick as I can." He held his hand out to Alice now, looking her in the eye.

"Oh Sweet Pea honey, everything should be alright. I will call if need be. You just take care of my Betty. You're staying here tonight right Elizabeth?" Betty was almost unable to breath. Alice would never allow such a thing, she would never let her youngest daughter stay at a boy's house past dinner much less overnight.

"Really Mom? I can stay?" A small smile crept over Betty's features.

"Of course, I trust Tanis, and I trust you and Sweet Pea. If things go according to plan we should be transporting most of the trailer tonight, with the help of some of the guys, and Jughead." Alice kissed Betty on the cheek, hugged her tightly, then turned to Tanis to do the same.

"Hey Mom." Betty moved toward her Mother standing near the door and FP. "Congratulations."

"Oh Elizabeth, don't make me cry, but thank you." They hugged tighter this time. Betty stretched her arm toward FP, bringing him into the hug.

"Congratulations FP." She leaned over and kissed his stubbly cheek.

"Thanks Darlin'. We really better be off now." FP and Alice hugged Tanis, and gave her their thanks. She gave her congratulations and then walked them down to the truck. Leaving Sweet Pea and Betty on their own.

"I can't believe you're going to be step siblings with Jughead. Lucky you!" Sweet Pea was poking Betty in her ticklish spots, wagging his eyebrows at her.

"Ha ha! Very funny Pea. This isn't exactly going to be fun for me. How am I supposed to have you over when he'll be there all brooding and angry at me?" She sat on the couch now, arms crossed brow furrowed. "What were they thinking?"

"I'm pretty sure I know what FP was thinking." Sweet Pea took a seat next to Betty. "I think about it myself everytime I'm with you." Snaking his arm around her shoulders, he brought to his side, rubbing circles on her arm with his thumb.

"Everytime you're with me?" She was looking up at him now, bottom lip tucked up under her top teeth.

"Mmm-hmm, and when you're not with me, and when I'm trying to go to bed." The crook of his knuckle was under her chin now, pulling her lips towards his. "It's hard not to think about you Betts, in any capacity." Then his lips were hard on hers, his hot tongue slipping over her soft lips.

"Hmm, I think one baby born into the Serpents is enough for right now, don't you Sweet Pea?" Tanis was standing next to the couch, arms folded in front of her, one eyebrow cocked in that way she did. She looked like she might beat Sweet Pea's ass so, he pulled away from Betty.

"I wasn't going to sleep with her here on the couch. Why do you think I'm a fool Ma?" He was standing now, eye to eye with his Mom.

"No offence Sweet Pea, but I don't trust sixteen year olds to make informed decisions. Are you on birth control Betty?" It was a valid question, one that deserved an answer given the circumstances.

"I uh, no. No I'm not." Betty looked down at her sock covered toes. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks, they hadn't exactly been thinking about the consequences of their actions if things ever did go further than planned.

"Mmmhmmm…. See? No one thinks these things through." Her pointer finger tapped her temple, her eyes narrowed on the teenagers. "You don't know how many young girls I see in and out of the hospital, not enough of them there for birth control pills or depo shots, or even to get a tubal. I suggest you make an appointment with your doctor Betty. It would be wise before you end up your Mom's shoes." Her arms were crossed now, eyes trained on Sweet Pea.

"I will Tanis, I promise. I'm not ready for that step yet, but I think you're right, I should be safe instead of stupid." Betty couldn't look at Sweet Pea, she was still looking at the neon patterns of her socks. Hands wrung together.

"Good, I should hope that you two would at least talk about this before you go making drastic choices. Don't forget Son, I'm only 32 and I don't think I should be called Grandma just yet." Tanis left the living room, disappearing into the kitchen where the smell of hot lasagna was coming from.

"I'm sorry Betty." Sweet Pea sat next to his girl again, placing a palm on her back. "I'm not an asshole, I wasn't trying to sleep with you right off the bat." Swivelling her head toward Sweet Pea, she smiled at him.

"I know Sweet Pea, If you were, you would treated me like Chuck. You would've been gone already." Her warm fingers came to rest on his upper thigh, her eyes never leaving his. "I love you Sweet Pea, we have time to explore, and we will, just not yet." Sweet Pea's eyes never left her as the words fell from Betty's mouth.

"I love you too Betts." He kissed her forehead, breathing in her scent.

"You two make sick. Get in here and get some of this lasagna." Tanis was standing in the kitchen doorway, hands on her hips, eyebrow arched.

"Come on." Sweet Pea held out a hand for her, she took it. She would probably let him lead her anywhere.

…~*~...

"Are you crazy?!" A fist smashes into the lopsided kitchen table, causing Alice to jerk in surprise.

"You wait just a goddamn minute boy! You apologize to Alice, scarin' the shit out of her like that. You don't have any leverage here Jug. Throwin' your weight around, here, in my home? I'll knock you down several pegs, right where you belong. Now sit your ass down." FP was livid, shaking from his rage at his obstinate son.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Cooper. I'm just trying to understand all of this." Jughead was apologetic for his actions, Alice didn't need to see his Dad's and his beef. Yet here she was, smiling sadly at him from across the table, tears welling in her eyes.

"It's alright Jughead, I understand, I'm still trying to understand myself." She reached across the dingy table top to pat his hand. She was trying, and she knew this wasn't easy for anyone.

"Look Son, I need you on board for this, I know it won't be smooth sailin' between you and Betty and Sweet Pea, but you have to make it work. We are all family, all Serpents. Do we have your blessing or what kid?" FP sat down now, leaning back into the rickety chair, his hand found Alice's thigh, he smiled at her brightly. It was more than he'd ever seen between his Dad and his own Mother. More love between the two of them than he'd ever seen in is whole life.

"Yeah, I'll do this, I'll get my head around it." The Jones men stood, hugged, then started pulling suitcases out of the hallway closet. It was time to move on.

…~*~...

1 month later….

"Betty, Jughead, breakfast!" Alice yelled up the stairs, she was flipping the last pancake on the griddle. There were several heaping plates already on the table, blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, several types of syrup and orange juice. Alice felt like maybe she wasn't putting enough out for Jughead, so she promptly started to fry eggs when she heard the groan of the teenage boy at the top of the staircase.

"Good morning Mrs. C. You didn't have to go through all this trouble. I could have had a bowl of cereal." Jughead's bare feet stuck out from his pajama pants, he looked from the eggs to the stacks of pancakes and breakfast meats on the table.

"Oh please Jug, I would never let you just eat cereal and you know it." Alice handed him his empty plate just as his tummy rumbled. He smiled at her, hugged her then sat at the table.

"Thanks Mrs. C." He was grateful, his own mother had never thought enough of him to even make sure there was cheerios in the house, much less making breakfast from scratch. This last month was a wake up call, understanding that his Mom was not a good one in any capacity and the fact that Jellybean was with her had him incredibly concerned.

"It smells incredible in here Ally." FP was kissing her cheek, hand snaking down to pat her round backside.

"Thank you FP. I thought you might want some breakfast before your run, I'm going to miss my boys around the house." Alice had grown fond of Jughead in the few short weeks they'd been under the same roof.

"I know I appreciate it!" Jughead winked at Alice, then turned his attention back to the heaping plate before him.

"You made blueberry?" Betty's eyes were wide standing behind her chair next to Jughead, she could feel the hunger deep in her stomach. Blueberry pancakes were her favorite.

"Of course Betty dear, I thought you'd enjoy them. They're your favorite, eat up!"

"Alice, sit down, you need to eat with us." FP motioned for her to sit next to him. Things were different now with the Jones' and the Coopers in one house. FP insisted that Alice sit down, he never wanted to start a meal without her seated beside him. He expected open and honest communication as well as family time at least twice a week. It made the blending of their families that much easier, sort of. Betty and Jughead were more than a little awkward.

"You boys better not get into too much trouble this weekend. I need you back here whole, safe." Alice hadn't needed to worry about her club being safe in more than 20 years, she was concerned to say the least, her nerves were almost frazzled.

"You know we'll be alright. We're just slanging herb down the coast, it's no big deal. My girls just need to bake and bag, deliver to the senior center and keep the lines clear. I know you got this Alice." FP leaned into Alice's side, kissing her cheek while rubbing her back.

"I know, it's second nature, but I still worry. You better come back to me quickly."

"Always Mama."

Jughead and Betty glanced at each other, mouths full of bacon and pancakes. Betty was worried too, she'd never been away from Sweet Pea this long and she was worried about him and Jughead getting along. Things had been going alright lately, Sweet Pea and Jughead having minimal contact and her going over the Sweet Pea's place more often than not. She wanted to be able to have a normal friendship with Jughead again, but he was distant and he barely acknowledged that they lived together. They didn't walk to school together, and he avoided her at all costs when they were home. It was almost too much for her. She needed for the silence to be resolved, it was deafening.

Jughead wanted to talk to Betty, to clear the air between them, but he couldn't find the words, ironic. He just kept to himself, leaving after her for school, or before, whichever was more convenient. The tension between them was palpable, it made him wish he'd never walked away from her outside the Wyrm that night. He avoided her at school so he could have some peace, at home he could hear her on the phone with Sweet Pea, giggling, telling him that she loved him, telling him good night. It was when Sweet Pea dropped her off at the end of the night that really got Jughead riled up, watching Sweet Pea's arms wrap around Betty, pulling her tight against his body and snaking his tongue into her mouth. Jughead felt like he might explode, like he wanted to punch through Sweet Pea's head. It always felt like his heart was being ripped from his chest, he hated it. Then Betty started wearing the prospect patch, then Sweet Pea's patch below that. Jughead almost beat the shit out of the skinny punk. Betty with a property of patch on top of the prospect patch, it was too much for him. His Dad and Alice seemed to be all about it, all on board with Sweet Pea practically pissing on Betty's leg, staking claim to the girl before she'd even been voted in.

"You better hurry up and get ready, you can't be late to the clubhouse." Betty was speaking to him now, Jughead almost choked on his pancake.

"Uh, yeah, I know, I'm almost finished." He couldn't look at her, it hurt too much.

"Hey, when you get back, do you think we could talk? Maybe get a shake at Pop's?" Betty was hell bent on getting things back to normal. Jughead was interested in getting back on the Blue and Gold before all of this, then he was just gone.

"Why?" He asked, feeling very out of place all of a sudden.

"I wanted to talk about you coming back to the Blue and Gold, you said you wanted to then never showed back up." Betty took a gulp of orange juice.

"Oh, well, we'll see okay Betts?" He slid his chair back, picking his plate up to wash it, ignoring Betty's adverse reaction to his nickname for her.

"Let me know okay Jug?" She kept her head down, pushing the bacon around on her plate with her fork.

Silently, Jughead scrubbed the plate, taking his time to rinse the soapy foam from it's surface. He knew if he spoke that he would say something to damage the delicate nature of his and Alice's relationship. He didn't want to upset his new found friend. So he let the water flow over his fingers, the stoneware, and then turned off the water, placing the dish in the drain wrack. Quickly he turned, glancing at Betty, meeting Alice's pleading brown eyes.

"Yeah, sure." He was barely audible as he ran two steps at a time up the stairs, leaving Betty to stare at her plate in silence with FP and Alice.

…~*~...

"I wish you knew how hard this is for me. I know it's only for a couple of days, but it's already feeling like a year. You gonna call me baby girl?" Sweet Pea had Betty pinned under him on the twin bed in the back dorm room of the Whyte Wyrm, It was his Mom's room, just in case she got hammered and couldn't ride home.

"I'll call you Pea, you know I will. I hate this, I wish I could come with you." She kissed his full lips again, her fingertips rubbing circles on back under his shit.

"I'll hurry home, make it up to you." His tongue was hot against her lips, she let her eyes roll back in her head, his mouth was magic on her own. Her skin felt like it was on fire, she craved Sweet Pea like water, like she needed him to survive.

"You better." There was a knock on the door of the dorm. Sweet Pea, sat up on his elbows.

"Yeah?" He yelled toward the door.

"It's time Pea, lets dip." FP yelled back at him.

"Okay Boss, be right there." Sweet Pea let his forehead rest on hers.

"God I hate this shit." He kissed her again, lacing their fingers together.

"Me too, please be safe?" She plead with him.

"You know I will baby girl. I'm coming home to you." Then he was tying his boot laces, slipping his jacket on and kissing her goodbye before opening the door. Her heart broke a little. She already wanted to run for him, make him stay, but she didn't. She just stood in the doorway to the Whyte Wyrm with her Mother, watching their men ride away.