A/N Thank you to Boris Yeltsin, 12noel12, and the guest for the reviews!
Chapter 25
When the first rays of light shone through the window, neither Veronica nor Archie wanted to get up, for two reasons. First, Faith, being a newborn, had been up every couple of hours, but luckily since Veronica wasn't breast feeding, at least Archie could also get up to feed her. The second reason was a lot worse for the two of them, today was Nick's trial, which made Veronica feel sick to her stomach.
Archie sighed rolling over and kissing her cheek, "you OK?" He asked worriedly.
Veronica didn't look at Archie, all she did was stare up at the ceiling.
"Listen," Archie said taking her hand, "everything will be fine."
Turning her head Veronica looked at Archie a tear falling from her eye.
"Talk to me," Archie encouraged.
"I'm scared…" Veronica admitted.
Archie sat up resting on his elbow, "I won't let anything happen to you," he vowed.
Veronica smiled sitting up and kissing Archie's lips, "I know, but if I have to testify in front of Nick then I'm going to have to do it alone."
"You won't have to." Archie said.
"If Nick decides to be an asshole then I won't have a choice…" Veronica whispered.
Archie touched Veronica's face and then leaned in kissing her again, "everything will work out one way or another."
Veronica sighed looking beside her as Faith began crying in her crib, she moved her body getting ready to get up but Archie took her hand stopping her.
"Wait."
"Do you want to feed her?" Veronica asked confused.
"I will," Archie said, "but first I have something for you."
Veronica watched confused as Archie turned his body, reaching into his end table, grateful that the two of them had spent the night at his place.
"I have something for you," Archie said turning back to face her.
"What's that?" Veronica asked, slightly impatiently, Faith's crying was starting to get louder and she was dying to pick her up to soothe her.
"I've been waiting to give this to you for a while."
"What is it?"
Archie took a deep breath before handing Veronica a box, she smiled opening it her heart skipping a beat when she saw a ring inside with the single diamond.
"Oh Archie…" Veronica whispered.
"It's just a promise ring," Archie said.
Veronica leaned in kissing his cheek.
"Do you like it?" Archie asked unsure.
"I love it," Veronica said more tears filling up in her eyes, "and I love you."
Archie smiled taking the ring out of the box, slipping it on her finger, "I'll be with you today, even if it doesn't feel like it."
Veronica smiled leaning in and kissing Archie's lips again.
"I'd better deal with Faith," Veronica said getting out of bed, picking up her up, "shhh, it's OK, honey," she said beginning to rock her gently.
"I'll go get the bottle." Archie said.
"Thanks," Veronica said smiling.
After Faith had been fed, burped, and clothed Archie had gotten dressed and was now downstairs with Fred waiting for Veronica to come downstairs.
"So what's going to happen if Nick decides to press charges against you for beating him up?"
"I'm not sure," Archie admitted, "that's why Veronica and I are heading there early so that Sheriff Keller can go through everything with us."
Fred looked at Faith, who was sleeping and sighed, "You two should be enjoying time with your baby, not dealing with this whole court thing."
"I know…" Archie said sadly, "but hopefully everything will go off without a hitch today, and then at long last Veronica and I can start our new lives with Faith."
Fred nodded his head and then the two of them looked up at the top of the steps as Veronica emerged, she was wearing a pair of black dress pants and a white button up blouse, along with the necklace that that Archie had given her for Christmas. However as she walked down the stairs Archie crossed his arms as he looked at the foot that wasn't in the walking cast.
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"You're seriously wearing a stiletto heel?"
Veronica smiled, "are you really surprised, I haven't worn heels in forever."
Archie rolled his eyes, he wasn't that surprised that she was wearing a heel, he had expected that she would but he thought she would start off smaller than a six inch one. Archie deciding to drop it took Veronica's hand, "Betty and Jughead should be here soon, are you ready to go?"
Veronica looked at Fred, "are you sure you're OK with her?"
"She's my Granddaughter," Fred said smiling, "of course I am."
"I just feel like we've left her alone with you a lot the past few days."
Fred looked down at Faith before looking back at Veronica, "I've enjoyed every moment of it."
"Well, Archie and I certainly appreciate it," Veronica said walking over to Faith kissing her head, "goodbye sweetheart." She said.
"Good luck today," Fred said adjusting Faith so that he could hug Veronica.
"Thank you, Mr. Andrews."
"It's Fred," he whispered in her ear.
Veronica took a step back allowing Archie and his Dad to hug, he then took Veronica's hand and the two of them walked out hand in hand towards Archie's car. They had decided to go with a less conspicuous car today, to hopefully sneak into the courthouse.
"Are you seriously wearing heels?!" Betty asked walking over to the car hand in hand with Jughead.
Veronica smiled sitting in the passenger seat, "yep."
"I'm just impressed that you're able to walk in it with your other foot in a walking cast," Jughead said, "when I was in one I could barely walk in running shoes."
Despite how nervous Veronica was feeling she chuckled and flipped her hair behind her shoulder, "I guess I'm just that talented."
Archie and Betty looked at each other smiling as the two of them also got into the car.
When Archie pulled up to the court house no one was surprised to see all the paparazzi gathered around the front entrance, however Veronica's idea to use Archie's car worked, since no one even paid them any notice as Archie drove to the side entrance.
"Thank God the paparazzi aren't over here…" Betty said.
Veronica nodded her head in agreement, she really just wanted to stay out of the news, at least for now.
After Archie parked the car he got out and ran over to the passenger door opening it and helping Veronica out, the four of them then walked inside where they were greeted by Sheriff Keller, Hiram, Hermione and a man that no one knew.
Hermione looked at Veronica before looking down at her feet and rolling her eyes, Veronica just smiled.
"Hello everyone!" Sheriff Keller said, "This is Henry Frost, the lawyer that will be representing the three of you."
Henry walked over to the four of them, shaking their hands.
"I'm Archie."
"Veronica."
"Betty."
"Jughead."
Henry looked at Archie, Veronica, and Jughead, "so you're the three that I'm representing?"
"That's right." Sheriff Keller said.
"So Veronica I understand that you recorded a video where you answered some questions?"
"That's right."
"You do understand that that might not be enough right?"
Veronica, not trusting her voice just nodded her head, Archie took her hand squeezing it.
Henry then went through what Archie and Jughead would have to do, but Veronica wasn't really listening, right now she felt as if she was going to be sick and she just hoped that the video would be enough.
"You OK?" Archie whispered to Veronica.
"Fine!" Veronica said a little too quickly.
"It's almost time," Sheriff Keller said, "you're going to have to take your seats soon."
As the words left his mouth Veronica fought back the urge to cry, Archie squeezed her hand, "you ready?"
Veronica took a deep breath, "yes."
Betty also hugged Jughead, because she wasn't going to have to testify she wouldn't be sitting with the three of them, "I love you,"
"I love you too," Jughead said before the two of them kissed.
When Veronica walked into the room her heart began beating quickly and her mouth immediately went dry as everyone turned in their seats to watch them. She was grateful that she was holding onto Archie's hand right now.
As they reached the front Veronica glanced off to the side feeling sick to her stomach as her and Nick locked eyes, he smiled at her, Veronica quickly looked away from him as Archie led her to where the three of them would be sitting.
Henry sat in front of a table, putting some papers in front of him, Sheriff Keller sat in the row behind Archie, Veronica and Jughead, and Betty sat beside him, followed by Hermione and Hiram.
"Please rise for Judge Todd," one of the officers said just as a judge wearing a long black robe walked in.
"Everyone but the jury please be seated," he instructed, once everyone had sat he looked at the Bailiff, "Ms. Simpson, please swear in the jury."
Veronica could hardly focus on what was going on, she was staring at the judge, but she swore she could feel Nick staring at her, of course she didn't move her eyes to check she didn't want to lose her composure by locking eyes with him again.
Once the Bailiff had sworn in the jury and the judge had done the introductions the trial began, it started off with Henry going up to the podium, and calling his first witness, which was Hermione. Veronica's heart sank as Hermione explained how her and Hiram had been sitting in the living room, and then two masked men broke in and shot Hiram, she wasn't sure where, and her in the torso.
As she finished her testimony the last words out of her mouth made Archie's blood boil, Hermione wiped away a few tears before she began speaking again, "I was still conscious when the two masked men took Veronica away…" she said trailing off, "when they took her I really thought that I would never see her again…"
Veronica let out the breath she hadn't even realized that she had been holding, as Archie squeezed her hand.
Henry walked over to the podium, turning around to face everyone, "are the people who shot you and your husband, and kidnapped Veronica in this room right now?"
Hermione shook her head, "no."
"And why is that?" Henry asked.
Hermione pointed to Nick, "he killed them!"
"Lies!" Nick screamed standing up quickly enough to knock over his chair, his lawyer pulled on his arm to get him to sit back down but Nick was having none of it, "she doesn't know anything!"
"Order!" The judge yelled banging his gavel, "order in the court!"
Nick walked around the table pointing at Hermione, "you would do anything to get that me thrown in jail!" He screamed before turning his attention to Archie and Veronica.
"Order!" The judge screamed again, but Nick ignored him running over to where they were sitting, Archie stood up standing in front of Veronica.
"He attacked me!" Nick yelled, "Why the hell isn't he on trial right now?!"
"You deserved it…" Archie whispered glaring at him.
"See he admitted it!"
"You kidnapped Veronica," Jughead said also standing up and walking in front of her, "you're lucky you're not dead…"
"Jughead!" Betty said surprised.
"They're threatening me!" Nick screamed turning quickly and running towards the judge, "I demand to know what you're going to do about this!"
Before Nick could run to the judge's podium, a security officer grabbed him and put handcuffs on him. Nick tried to get free of them, but he couldn't, and by now the whole entire court room was just staring at him dumbfounded, with the exception of his lawyer who was shaking his head.
"I am now going to call a brief recess," the judge said banging his gavel once again.
Once Veronica, Archie, Jughead, Betty, Hermione and Hiram were in the hallway they were all cautiously optimistic.
"So I guess that Nick just screwed himself over," Jughead said.
"It sure looks that way." Hiram agreed.
"I hope that he rots in jail," Archie said, Veronica nodded her head in agreement.
"I wouldn't get my hopes up…" Sheriff Keller said walking over to them with Henry.
"Why on Earth not?" Hermione asked confused.
"Yeah," Betty agreed, "given Nick's temper in the court room surely the jury would find him guilty now."
Henry and Sheriff Keller looked at Archie and Jughead, "I'm afraid that you two threatening him didn't help."
"Dammit…" Archie said in disbelief.
"Oops…" Jughead said slightly embarrassed.
Betty and Veronica both squeezed their hands, "it's OK," Veronica whispered touching Archie's face.
"What happens now?" Hiram asked.
"Is he going to go free?" Hermione asked.
"Well the jury heard Archie and Jughead threaten Nick so they might think that he's the victim." Henry said.
"There has to be something that we can do to make sure he doesn't go free!" Betty cried.
"And to make sure that Archie and Jughead don't go to jail." Veronica added in.
Sheriff Keller and Henry looked at Veronica, both of them had a nervous expression on their faces.
"What?"
"Veronica…" Sheriff Keller began before trailing off, "I'm afraid that the video isn't going to be enough… not now."
"What?" Veronica asked her eyes growing wide with fear.
"You're going to have to go back further," Henry said, "let the jury know that you and Nick have history together."
Veronica's stomach twisted uncomfortably as she realized what story she was going to have to tell the jury… and the whole entire court room.
"There's no other option?" Hermione asked.
"I'm afraid not," Sheriff Keller said.
"But we're not going to force you, Veronica." Henry said.
Veronica began blinking quickly trying to fight the tears, she was vaguely aware of Archie putting his arm around her and kissing her head. But that's not what she was focusing on right now, all she could do was think of Faith. If Nick went free would he go after her again? Would she and Archie ever be able to have a normal life with their daughter? In that instance Veronica knew that she had to testify for Faith, to make sure that she would always be safe.
"I'll do it." Veronica finally said, earning surprised glances from everyone.
"Veronica…" Archie whispered, she turned to face him, standing on her tiptoes so she could kiss his lips, "I have to do this for Faith," she whispered, "I can do this."
Archie embraced Veronica into a hug, "I love you so much!"
"I love you too," she said wishing that this hug never had to end, but alas much sooner than anyone had wanted everyone was called back into the courtroom.
Archie and Veronica walked in hand in hand, Nick was to take the stand first, and then Veronica, Jughead was to testify after her. Sitting back down in their seats Archie never let go of her hand, something that Veronica was very grateful for.
Once Nick had sworn on the Bible, Henry walked over and began asking him the typical questions, where were you on the night Veronica was kidnapped, who were you with, can they confirm this? To which surprisingly Nick said yes.
"Listen, Veronica and I used to be best friends," Nick said, trying to play up the sob story, "and then she became a mega bitch, so why would I want to kidnap her?" He asked crossing his arms, "She's such a pain in the ass."
"You kidnapped me too!" Jughead screamed, "I saw you threaten her!"
"Order!" The judge screamed, Betty gently pulled Jughead back down.
"Then Archie attacked me in the woods for no reason!"
As the words left his mouth Archie's blood began to boil, Veronica squeezed his hand, "it's OK," she whispered.
Glancing at the jury Veronica couldn't believe that a fair number of them had sympathetic looks on their faces, her heart began beating quickly and the butterflies in her stomach got worse as she realized that it was her turn very soon.
"Thank you, Mr. Clair," Henry said, "no more questions."
Nick stood up from the chair, and as he walked back to his seat he smirked at Veronica.
"I now call to the witness stand, Ms. Veronica Lodge," Nick's lawyer said.
Veronica's breath caught in her throat, Archie leaned over kissing her cheek, "I'm right here," he whispered.
Veronica unable to speak just nodded her head, standing up she walked towards the witness stand. When she got there she placed her hand on the Bible, "do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I swear," Veronica said before sitting down.
"Please say your full name," the lawyer said.
"Veronica Lodge."
"Do you know Nick St. Clair?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"We were old friends before I moved to Riverdale with my Mother."
"You're no longer friends?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Veronica took a deep breath to steady herself, "Would you continue to be friends with someone who tried to rape you?"
Several members of the court room gasped, glancing at Archie she wasn't surprised to see that his face was red with anger.
"You're such a liar!" Nick screamed
"When did this take place?" The lawyer asked.
Veronica thought, "I don't remember, it was during a party a few months ago."
"Did Nick kidnap you?"
"Yes."
"What happened to you while you were being held hostage by him?"
"He wanted my baby," Veronica said a tear escaping from her eye.
"Why?"
"So he could have his own family, since his parents are dead, he wanted me to fall in love with him so that he wouldn't be alone."
"Did you fall in love with him?"
"No."
"He says you stabbed him?"
"I did."
"He said that he was just visiting you and then you stabbed him."
Veronica scoffed and looked at Nick, who was smiling at her, "I did it to try and escape… if I didn't fall in love with him then he was going to take my baby and kill me,"
"I can vouch for this!" Jughead said standing up.
"He's interrupting the trial!" Nick screamed.
The judge looked at Jughead, "I'll allow it!" He said banging his gavel, which earned the death glare from Nick.
Jughead walked up and stood in front of the podium, placing his hand on the Bible, after he was sworn in he began speaking, "I was down in the basement when Nick threatened to cut the baby out of Veronica's stomach and then kill her."
Once again several people gasped.
"Did you give birth?" The lawyer asked Veronica.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In the forest, after I had escaped from Nick."
"How did you escape?"
"A doctor, Dr. John, helped Jughead and I escape."
"What happened to him?"
"Nick killed him by burning the place where he was holding me hostage down, he then shot me in the leg right after I gave birth to my daughter," Veronica said her voice shaking a bit as tears fell from her eyes.
"Is that why you're in the walking boot?"
Veronica nodded her head, "I was in a coma for a few days."
"As sad as that may be, we still have no proof that Nick is behind any of this…" the lawyer said,
"We all know he was behind it!" Archie screamed really starting to get angry now.
"We were all there!" Jughead also screamed.
The lawyer ignored all the comments as he continued talking, "So in that case I must call a mis…" however before he could finish the sentence the doors to the court room flew open and a man ran in.
End chapter 25
The next chapter will be the Epilogue
I don't own Riverdale
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