"Fred, we have a problem." Fred was sitting in his office when Hermione suddenly came storming in.

"What's wrong?" He already knew what was coming.

"It's your books, Fred. You only have enough to pay for another three weeks of payroll."

"Yeah. I just...I can't let any of my guys go. Last time I did, it didn't go well." He couldn't help thinking he was partly to blame for the situation with Jughead. "I trust those guys and they trust me."

"I know Fred, but this could put your whole business in danger." He just nodded, he knew she was right.

"I'm waiting on a huge bid, it's a long shot but I'm hoping to get the construction of the new development where the Twilight was. Unfortunetly with the owner staying so secretive I can't plead my case with them but I invited the Mayor to dinner to try to woo her into giving it to me." He knew it would be tough but he had to try.

"She can do that?"

"Well she's dealing with all the arrangements for the buyer, I figure if anyone can it will be her." He got an idea that may help his case. "How would you feel about being my co-host?"

"Yeah, of course. If you think it would help."

"It couldn't hurt."

"Let's do it at my place though, it's nicer. No offence." She had moved closer him through the conversation and now she placed a hand on his chest, he knew he move away, she had made it clear she wasn't available, but he couldn't make himself.

"Hermione..."

Veronica had bought a small potted plant as she left school, she was going to see how her mums first day at the new job went. She hoped it was going well there, it was much better than the job at Pop's she had. It wasn't long until she was coming upon the building, she was in a world of her own as she walked, still going through the lyrics for the talent show in her head. She wanted to do the best she could, more for Archie's sake than her own. As she looked up out of her reverie and saw something that brought confusion and then anger as she looked closer. Her mum could be seen through the window, in a tight embrace with who she thought was Mr Andrews, their lips interlocked. She was shocked, how could her mum do this? She was married. She just had to get out of there, she couldn't see anymore. There was only one other person she could think of that may understand her unhappiness in that moment. She allowed the plant to swing from her hand as she hurried over to Archie's hosue, he should be home by now and apparently alone.

She was out of breath from rushing when she arrived and knocked hurriedly, she was surprised when Jughead was the one to answer.

"Veronica, what's wrong?" She found herself appreciating the concern on his face.

"I need to talk to Archie."

"Ok, come and sit down, I'll go get him from upstairs." She felt his hand take her arm and guide her to the couch in the living room. "Do you want anything?"

"No, thanks." She looked up and saw he still looked worriedly towards her. "I'm ok, just need to talk to him."

"Ok." She heard him yell Archie's name upstairs and moments later footsteps.

"What's going on, Jug?"

"Visitor." Jughead just nodded to her sat on the couch. "I'll be upstairs."

"Veronica, you ok?"

"I just saw our parents...kissing." She mentally shook herself as she said that.

"What?" Archie came to sit beside her, a look of shock on his face.

"You didn't know about this then?"

"No, I mean, He gave her a job and he said something about humiliating himself in front of her a couple of weeks ago. I didn't think anything of it really."

"I saw them at the Drive-in together, she told me it was just as friends." She looked over and saw Archie didn't seem to be taking it as badly as her.

"It could have just been as friends, my dad would have told me if something had started." He noticed how angry she seemed then. "I mean, would it really be so bad?"

"They are both married Archie, to other people." She moved away from him then as if horrified with his responce.

"My mum and dad are seperated, she has a boyfriend."

"Well my mum and dad aren't seperated."

"No, but he's not exactly around."

"That's so not the point Archie." He could see he was just making things worse for her.

"You're right and I'm sorry. What can I do?" She moved closer to him again now.

"I don't know, Arch. I guess I should talk to my mum though."

"That's probably best, I'll talk to my dad too. Chances are this only started today, my dad would have told me if anything else had happened." She nodded at him then, it made her feel better that her mum hadn't actually been hiding from her.

Archie was still sat in the living room when his dad walked in, Veronica had only left ten minutes before.

"Hey, Arch. Something I wanted to talk to you about."

"About you and Mrs Lodge?" He saw the confused look on his dad's face and couldn't help but chuckle at him. "Veronica saw you two in your office, she isn't happy." His dad just shook his head, he looked slightly embarressed.

"Not exactly how I wanted you to find out."

"That's alright, I don't mind the whole thing. If you're happy then I'm happy." He watched as a smile came to his dad's face then. "But Veronica is having issues with it, her mum is married."

"Yeah, I know. It's complicated." Archie put his hands up in a sign of surrender then.

"I know and I won't judge. Just know that Veronica may not be so easy to win over."

Veronica saw her mum sat on the couch when she entered their room, she told herself she could remain calm but it turned out that she couldn't. As soon as she saw her she could hear herself throwing words towards her.

"Mum, how could you do this? What about dad? Will you leave him when he get's out?"

"Woah, woah, woah. Veronica, what's going on?"

"I saw you today mum, with Mr Andrews."

"Oh honey, I wish you hadn't seen that." She moved with her mum back to the couch and faced her. "It's never happened before today."

"What about when dad get's home?"

"I don't know." She was shocked at how her mum talking about her marriage. "I'm sorry, things are complicated with your dad, I know this must be hard for you to hear."

"So what, you're continuing this with Mr Andrews."

"Veronica, I know you don't want to hear this. But I want to see where this goes with Fred, I understand you don't approve of it."

"How could I?"

"I don't expect you to, but please try to understand what I'm going through. Fred is a great source of comfort right now. What can I do to make this easier for you?"

"You can't make this easier mum."

Betty was sat at lunch, Jughead sat beside her, when suddenly Veronica sat heavily in the seat oppisite her.

"Jeez, Veronica, what's wrong?" When she didn't answer she looked over to Jughead who just shrugged. "Veronica?" She said it louder this time and she finally looked up at her.

"Sorry, world of my own. My mum has started seeing someone."

"I'm sorry, that can't be easy. I didn't even know her and your dad were splitting?" She knew instantly she had said the wrong thing.

"They aren't splitting up!" She seemed to deflate under the looks they were giving her. "Or maybe they are, I'm not even sure anymore, my mum says she wants to 'see how things go', I don't know what that means."

She reached across the table to touch Veronica's arm in a sign of comfort. She hadn't noticed Archie walking up behind her but he went to sit next to Veronica now.

"Hey Ronnie, what did your mum have to say?"

"You told Archie about this?" She was slightly confused how he had heard about this before her.

"Yeah, it was his dad I saw her with." It all became a little clearer now, Archie didn't seem to have the issues Veronica did with it though. "She just said it was new but will be continuing with it, she doesn't know what's going to happen with my dad when he gets out." Archie just nodded, he wasn't really sure how to respond to that.

"I kind of have other news, might help take your mind off stuff."

"Shoot."

"Valerie quit the Pussycats, appearently some argument with her and Josie. She wants to work with me, with us, for the talent show."

"Oh." Veronica looked taken aback by the conversation. "I guess she should come to the next practise, see how she fits in with us?"

"That's what I told her. I wasn't sure if you'd want to still do it, with everything going on. Don't feel like you have to."

"Are you telling me you want me out?"

"God, no. Veronica I'd love it if you stayed and did this with me, you've been the best support these last few days. I just understand if you drop out."

"Thanks Arch. I'll keep that in mind. But I'll see you at practice tonight?"

"Yeah, be at mine at 6 like usual." She just nodded slowly.