Jughead got up early, he wasn't looking forward to today but he knew it would be worse for Betty. He had to be there for her today, they had no idea what Polly was going to be like when they got there. He wished he could go in there with her, leaving her would be the hardest part of the day for him. It was a couple of hours until they were due to meet but he knew he wasn't going to get any more sleep, instead he decided to get himself something to eat, he always felt hungry when he was stressed. He hadn't expected anyone else to be up but he found Mr Andrews in the kitchen.

"Hey, Jug. Early start for a saturday isn't it?"

"I was about to say the same thing to you. I'm meeting Betty in a couple of hours, couldn't sleep." Fred just nodded to him.

"Doing much today?"

"Paper stuff, chasing a lead."

"Sounds suitably vague."

"It's a vague lead." He knew Betty wouldn't want him telling anyone about today. "I'll be out pretty much all day though."

"Ok, I've got a dinner with the mayor tonight, about a job. Archie said he might come with me, you're welcome to join us, if you'd like."

"I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, probably best I don't interfer anyway. I can fend for myself for the night." He saw a strange expression on Fred's face that he couldn't quite place.

"Ok, if you're sure." He just nodded back at him, if anything he was happy to be having a quiet night without Archie's music constantly in the background. "You look..." He pulled an odd face again as if he couldn't think if the word.

"I'm guessing you're not looking for a good word. I'm just tired, I already know today is going to be a long day." He suddenly remembered why he had come downstairs and started moving towards the fridge. "I was going to make myself something to eat."

"We have bacon, if you're in the mood for a sandwich?" He was already pulling the bacon off the shelf of the fridge as he said it.

"Sounds perfect, want one?" He looked over to see Fred nodding as he walked towards the cooker. "I got this, don't worry."

Jughead zoned out as he was cooking, it let his head get out of thinking for a while. He allowed himself to forget about the day ahead of him and instead just thought about his breakfast.

"Jug?"

"Huh?" He turned back to see Fred staring at him, it seemed he had been talking to him while he cooked and he had been ignoring him. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I didn't know you cooked."

"Yeah, with my dad the way he was I kind of had to figure out how to feed myself." He had purposely kept his tone light as he spoke.

"Suppose you did." He saw the pity make it's way into Fred's eyes and he looked away again.

"It's a good life skill to have." He put the bacon into sandwiches and put one in front of Fred and took one himself. "Comes in handy sometimes." He heard some movement upstairs and was glad he had put enough on for a sandwich for Archie too, he could always smell bacon.

"Hey, who's cooking this early?" Archie walked into the kitchen stretching.

"That would be me, bacon sandwich?" He held out a sandwich to him which he quickly took as he sat at the island next to his dad.

It was quiet as all three of them ate, it didn't take long before all three sandwiches were eaten.

"Right, I should get myself ready to go." He stood up and put his plate in the sink.

"Little early isn't it, Jug?" Archie had his mouth full as he asked but he managed to make out what he said.

"Paper stuff, see you both later." He removed himself quickly from the room before anymore questions were asked. He had enough time to have a quick shower before having to leave.

Betty walked out of her house to see Jughead already stood on the side walk waiting for her, he looked like he hadn't slept much either. She felt bad for putting him through the stress she had felt the last few days, she knew he had been worried about her. Even on a day like today she still smiled when she saw him and she saw his face brighten with a similar smile as their eyes met, as she moved forward towards him she saw him move towards her too. They met in the middle of her walkway and she was engulfed in his arms before she knew it, anything could be going on around them, but right here she would always feel safe. He held on to her until she was ready to pull away, only then did he speak.

"You ready for today?" His voice was soft as his eyes searched her face.

"Yeah, I need to do this." He just nodded and turned while keeping her hand in his.

"Then let's do this." She knew he was faking the cheerful tone in his voice but it still made her smile.

They walked together to the bus stop, they only had to wait a few minutes until it pulled up. The bus journey was horrible, it took nearly an hour to reach the home. Betty knew Jughead was trying to keep her spirits high and for most of the journey it was working well enough, he even had her laughing a couple of times. That all stopped the second she caught sight of the place though, she couldn't picture Polly here at all, it was huge and imposing, seemed to block out the sun as they approached it. As they got off the bus Jughead took her hand again and squeezed tightly.

"It might not be as bad as it looks." He didn't sound so confident as he said that but she still appreciated the words.

"Right." They walked up to the front door but before seh could push it open he pulled on her arm gently to turn her to him.

"I won't leave, I'll be right in there waiting for you to come out."

"I know, Juggie."

"If I could stay at your side I would." A sad look took over his features then.

"I know, it's alright though. I can do this."

"I know you can." He brought her close for a small kiss and then hugged her tightly, it brought her a confidence she didn't have before that moment.

She turned then and went straight into the door, she didn't want to put it off any longer. It didn't look any better on the inside, she hated to think of Polly stuck in here, she felt Jughead hand press firmly on her lower back, once again he gave her the confidence she needed to take another step into the reception area.

"Hello?" The woman behind the counter had a stern expression, it seemed like it had etched itself into her skin.

"Hi, I'm Elizabeth Cooper. Here to see Polly Cooper, she's my sister."

"Alright, do you have ID?" She pulled out her driving license from her bag and placed in on the counter.

"He won't be able to go in." She looked in distaste over to Jughead. She just nodded back at her. "Come with me." Jughead gave her another quick hug and said he would wait right there, she smiled at him and followed the woman through a set of double doors. "Polly's room is this way but it's time for silent reflection, she usually likes to spend that in the gardens." She was walked through another door to the outside areas, she recognised Polly as soon as she saw her and sent the other woman away.

Polly was croached looking at flowers, Betty just drank in the sight of her. She hadn't seen her in so long, she could only see her profile but she seemed healthy. She felt her legs rush towards her, Polly seemed to sense her arrival as she looked up just in time to be able to stand to greet her, only then did Betty see the bump pertruding from her. She looked in shock but continued the movement to hug her sister as tightly as she dared, even if it was a little awkward with the bump between them.

"Polly...You're...With Jason's?" Polly nodded slightly.

"You didn't know?" Betty just shook her head, Polly's move here made more sense now, her parents were hiding her.

"No, they didn't tell me, I would've got here sooner. I wish I got here sooner."

"It's alright Betty, they told me you didn't want to see me. Not that I believed them at all, I knew you'd find us. Please say you're happy for me Betty."

"Of course I am, I'm just so sorry I didn't force the issue and get her to you." He sister brought her in for another tight hug before leading them to a small bench so they could sit.

"So what did they tell you about me? Drugs? Alcohol?"

"They told me you were sick, that you tried to hurt yourself."

"Tch, that is so like mum." She rolled her eyes then. "They put me in here because they couldn't control me anymore."

"What happened Polly?"

"Jason was forced by his parents to end things with me, he hated doing it. It broke both our hearts to have to end it, but with both our families so against it we saw no way to continue it. I found out I was pregnant and he was so happy when I told him, you should have seen him. He told me we were going to run away, so our families couldn't stop us anymore, we didn't know how they would react to this. We made a plan for July 4th, he had a place for us to go and start our new family together. So I packed a bag and I went downstairs. There was this woman sat in the kitchen with two men, mum and dad had somehow found everything out. They threw me into this van and brought me here, I screamed so much but they didn't pay attention."

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry Polly."

"Have you spoke to him at all, he needs to know I didn't just abandon him. That I'm safe and so is the baby."

"Polly-"

"I'll write him a message and you can get it to him, right?"

"Polly, please...-"

"I'm ready to follow the plans still, the car on the lost highway, off route 40. I remember it, I can follow the plan, we can still run away and have our family."

"Polly, please, you need to listen to me." She hadn't been expecting this, she thought she would know about Jason. How could her mum not tell her this?

"What is it? Has something happened? Tell me Betty?"

"Polly, I'm so sorry." Betty could feel tears forming in her eyes. "Jason died, we don't know exactly what happened yet." Polly just froze, she looked as if someone had physically hit her.

"No, no, no, no. He can't be gone, he can't be." She started shaking her head strongly and tears were flowing strongly for both of them now.

"Polly, I'm sorry. He is." She brought her sister in for another hug, she calmed down slightly.

"I knew something was wrong, I've been feeling it for a while." Betty just nodded lightly.

"Come with me, now." She turned to see the stern woman was back and wanted Betty to leave.

"I can't leave her."

"You will come with me, young lady. The patients next of kin has arrived." Betty looked over to Polly who had gone pale.