Her eyes are blue like the fresh spring sky. His eyes as black as a moonless night.

This was not the first time they were looking into each other's eyes, but it was the first after everything changed in their lives, after the first flush of true love. Fear and desire replaced by trust and love.

"I wish you could code."

"Why so?" she asked.

"You could have come with me to Stanford, we could have taken a room with a kitchenette" Betty blushed, she felt his breath on her chest "we would cook together" images raced through her mind, she fantasised so much about this and now he was saying it "there would be only one bed" this is torture, her right hand was on his chest, it started exploring him "you would put me to sleep every night with your lullabies."

Lullabies ?

Betty got hold of a pillow and swatted him, Jug laughed, she was so caught up in his words that she didn't notice his sly smile as he was talking. His long arms reached up and stopped her as she was about to swat him again. Spring Sky, Moonless night. "Of course, there would be something other than lullabies too." He cradled her left cheek, his hands caressing her lips, fondling her hair. "I want you to know that I love you and I will never force myself on you, it's your life, your body, your company means more to me than sleeping with you."

Betty couldn't stand his gaze, looking away. "Betts...I am sorry" he said, worried that he hurt her. "No...no...Juggie, it's just..." she held his hands, wondering how large they were, she kissed them and held them to her chest.

"I never thought like this about anyone, not even Archie, and yet..." she gazed into his eyes "You love me so much, I can't lie to you, I have thought so much about us two, how it would be like to feel you." she gulped "but I don't know, I ... I sometime think it's so soon, that I need some time."

He rubbed her arms "Same here, Angel. You are so beautiful, and I am looking forward to when it will happen but I don't want to hurt you, I would die before that."

Would Archie have been like this ? Reggie ? Archie would sometimes touch her intimately but it was only to satisfy himself. The first time he did, she was taken aback, he never asked her how she felt, didn't even look into her eyes. She didn't encourage him further, she loved him too much to think of him as taking advantage of her.

Reggie would have jumped on her if he knew her thoughts, one too many times he hinted how he felt lonely at night in his bed.

She bent down, her supple, athletic body allowing her to reach his lips. He met her halfway, she held him as a mother would hold her baby, if only I wasn't so stupid she thought. We could have been like this, years ago.

Their bodies moved as one, she lay on top of him, holding him, looking into his eyes.

"Juggie ?"

"Yes, Blue Eyes."

"You changed so much for me, you don't even wear your beanie anymore. Why were you like that way ? I always thought you were cute. " she smiled "But you put off a lot of girls, you struggled so much with Ethel."

Jug ran his fingers through her hair, undoing the band that held her ponytail, playing with her golden hair. "Remember Debbie ?" he asked. She nodded.

"I told you about the crush I had on her, it really hit me hard when we moved, we were still in kindergarten, yet..." he paused "That's why I didn't care about how I looked, didn't get too friendly with girls, I would have been that way always, but then..." he put her head to his chest, she could hear his heart thump "You came to Riverdale." he let out a sigh.

"I thought I could never forget her, that nobody could be more perfect. I was wrong. I saw you, met you, played with you. As we got to know each other, I realised what Debbie lacked. You are so deep, so thoughtful, so kind, caring. The more I got to know you, the more I realised you were so like me. You are the only one who understands me, you tolerate my weirdness. Even Archie, my parents, no one has ever done that for me."

She looked into his eyes, they were not emotions. It was the truth. "Now you probably hate me for giving up on Debbie !" he smiled.

Her hair fell like cascades around her head, it was her halo. "I would have been lost without you." she whispered. "So many times, I can't even recall all the times, and it wasn't just Archie." They looked at each other in silence, what more could they say ?

"I am scared." she whispered. "Why ?" he asked. "Dilton." she laid her head down on his chest "He isn't too friendly with you after what you did that day, you know how seriously he takes his grades. I think he feels his position threatened. What if ..." she stopped, no, maybe I am just worrying, she thought, it's a big week for him, I shouldn't be jinxing it. She sat up, looking away from him. "Betts..." he sat up and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Nothing, Juggie, it's ok." she said.

"You are afraid Dilt will throw the contest." it wasn't a question, but a statement, a fact. I have to learn not to lie to him, she thought.

"It's ok, Angel." it was the first time he was calling her that "I know Dilton is wary of me, I don't like it but I told you how much I feel about all this." he leaned forward, cradling his head on her shoulder. "I know Dilt, I saw him today, yes, he isn't that friendly anymore but he won't throw the contest. He has got his heart set on taking up Computers in an Ivy League, probably MIT and he knows what a big help maxing this contest will be to his CV." his hands went around her waist and they sat like that, basking in the warmth.

"What about you ?" she asked "Have you decided where you will be going ?"

He let out a sigh, hugged her tighter, drawing them closer "I don't know, Betts. All my life, I wished I could find someone who understood me, who could guide me. Don't get me wrong..." he nuzzled her neck, she closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Ms. Grundy adores you, you can do no wrong for her. Dilton has Prof. Flutesnoot, even the Bee despite everything has a soft spot for Archie, despite what he told me that day, he would choose Arch over me any day as the better guy."

Betty felt sorry for him, it was true. Teachers at school didn't trust him much. It took an exceptional set of grades for Jug to be awarded Best Student and that too was delayed by a week due to endless meetings where the majority of the teachers had their votes set against Jug to start with.

"Don't worry. " Her hand reached out to carress his face. "I am sure you will find someone who understands you at university."

They would have held each other all night if Betty's cell had not rang, her mom checking on her.

She searched for the band. "I got it !" Jug said "Let me..."

He made her ponytail, it was the first time a man did it. "Juggie ?" she asked.

"Yes, Angel ?"

"Do you like my hair open or in a ponytail ?"

"You look great in both." He reached down to kiss her neck "It's just that I have always seen you with your hair tied, it suits you a lot." He smiled mischievously "With your hair open, you will look a lot like your best friend who can't stand my sight !"

"You are so mean !" she pinched her face.

She protested it was late, he wouldn't listen, more reason to walk her home. As they went out, his mom watched them, concerned. Did they ? she thought.

They stood on her porch quietly, even a kiss seemed painful.

"You sleep well tonight." she said "Don't I always ?" he asked. "You have worked a lot, don't mess it up. You must rest." she said.

He looked down, she knew, his parents knew after all.

"Blue Eyes..."

"Yes, Juggie ?"

"I will take the car and pick up Dilt in the morning, someone has to drive the car back from the airport."

She smiled "Of course I will, Doofus ! I will be waiting !"

"Thanks !" he smiled sheepishly.

"I will drop by every day to check on Jelly." she said.

"Betts...I...you have done a lot for me, for us. I don't know how to ..."

"Don't..."

The kiss was long and sweet. She was going to open the door when she felt her bag.

"Juggie !" she took out the cookies. "I forgot... I made some..." she couldn't complete. He hugged her.

She knew he was crying.