Three days later
Betty's pov
We're at Fp's house, finally able to take JB home after a long three days that seemed to drag on for centuries. We're getting everything settled for her when someone knocks on the door.
"Are you expecting anyone?" I ask Fp.
"No, are you, JB?" He asks Jellybean.
She shakes her head no. "Nope," she says. She's on the couch, Jug and Fp next to her, Juju on her lap and me next to Jughead.
The person knocks again.
"I'll get it I guess," I say, and stand up, slowly walking to the door.
I open it to see a teenage boy standing there. He looks nervous. His hair is light brown and slightly messy, brushed out of his face. He's tall, and his eyes are soft, a blue-green color. He looks familiar. Probably in one of my classes, but I don't remember him well enough to remember his name.
"Hi, can I help you?" I ask him.
"Uh, does JB live here?" he asks me, looking anxious. His voice is deep and gravelly.
"Why?" I ask him. I suddenly feel very protective of JB, like she's my own kid.
"I'm looking for her. She hasn't talked to me for a while and I'm wondering what's up," the boy answers.
I suddenly realize he's the guy who got her pregnant. Probably her boyfriend. "What's your name? I'll tell her you were here," I say calmly, even though I feel anything but calm.
"Is she not here?" He asks, concern in his voice.
"She's here," I say coolly.
"Can I see her?" He asks me, curious.
"Just tell me your name, I'll tell her you were here," I roll my eyes.
"Fine, okay. My name is Alex," he tells me, before pausing. "You look familiar. Do I know you? What's your name?" He asks me.
"Betty Cooper," I reply.
"N- hang on... there's a Miss Cooper at school... are you Miss Cooper?" Alex asks me.
I blush, suddenly remembering he is one of the popular kids, who plays football and basketball. "Um... yeah.. yeah I am Miss Cooper," I say slowly and awkwardly.
"Why are you at JB's house?" He asks.
"Because... because…," I stutter, unsure of what to tell him.
"Hold on, JB's brother is Mr. Jones…," his eyes travel to my hand, landing on the ring on my left ring finger. "Are you married to JB's brother?" he asks me, and I can tell his brain is close to finishing off the puzzle we've created. But he's missing a vital piece: the baby.
"Uh-," I start, but am cut off by Jughead.
"Lovey, who's at the d-?" He asks, walking up behind me and freezing when he sees Alex. "Alex... ho- why- wha- huh?" He manages to stutter.
"Okay, got my answer there," Alex says, brushing his hair out of his face. "Can I please see JB?".
"Oh, you're looking for JB? I'll get he,r" Jughead says.
"What- Juggie- n-," I start, but he's already called Jellybean to us.
"What's- Alex!"JB smiles happily. It's the happiest I've seen her all week.
"JB," he smiles back. "I haven't seen you in so long, what's going on?" he asks her.
JB's smile fades. "Can I talk to him alone?" She asks us.
"Just don't... y'know," I say, and follow Jughead back to the couch.
JB's pov
"JB," Alex says again, and hugs me.
"Hi," I say, and I feel like I'm about to break down in tears.
"Where've you been? I was so worried," Alex asks me, concerned.
"I... was in the hospital," I whisper.
His eyes get wide and his mouth slowly opens. "What?" He says softly. "What happened?"
"I... well, I'll start from the beginning," I say, and Alex nods softly. "I got pregnant," I start.
"Oh my god..." Alex says, his voice a quiet whisper.
"But then... I had... a... miscarriage," my voice is barely audible at the end, but Alex can hear it.
"Baby... I'm so so sorry I wasn't there for you" he whispers, holding onto me, my head pressed into his chest as he rubs comforting circles on my back
"And… it hurt so much, Alex, and I was farther along than I thought, and..." I say, feeling warm tears form in my eyes. "I was in so much pain, and there was so much blood, I was so scared I would die," I sob, hugging Alex.
"Shh, just breathe," he says, rubbing my back as I lean into his chest.
"I love you" Alex whispers after a minute.
"I love you too" I whisper back without pausing to think for even a second. It feels right. We feel right.
"I'm so sorry about the baby," Alex says softly.
"I'll get over it eventually... I think," I whisper the last part.
"You don't have to," Alex whispers back. "You don't have to fully get over them. You have to stop grieving at some point, but you can be sad forever. You just can't let the thought of the baby stop you from doing anything,"
We just lean into each other for minutes, enjoying the company of the other.
Later that night
Betty's pov
"Jug, come here!" I yell. I'm sitting on our bed with Julie on my lap.
Jughead walks into the room. "What?" He asks.
"Julie and I have a surprise for you, but you have to go sit in the car for a little bit so we can set it up," I say.
"Okay…," he says, a little bit suspicious.
"I'll text you when you can come in, now get out!" I laugh, making him laugh.
"Yeah daddy, get out!" Juju giggles.
"Okay, bye girls," Jughead laughs, and I can hear the door shut when he leaves the house.
As soon as we hear that, Jules and I get to work, first writing notes, and then putting them in balloons and blowing up the balloons. Then we walk around the house and put the balloons in various rooms.
"I'm so excited mommy!" Juju says, her voice so happy.
"I'm excited too, baby," I smile back at her. "Okay, I'm gonna text dad now," I say, and pull out my phone to tell him that we're ready.
He's at the door a minute later.
"Hey girlies," he says.
"Daddy, read this!" Julie says happily, and hands Jughead the first note.
"Dad, me and mommy have a surprise for you. Go to the fridge to find your next clue," Jug reads carefully. He walks to the fridge, finding the first purple balloon.
"Pop it!" Julie screams excitedly.
"Okay," Jug laughs, and pops the balloon, letting a note and something else fall out. "What is this?" Juggie asks, looking at the second thing. "Oh my god, a gift card to Pops! Thank you," Jughead smiles, hugging me and Julie.
"Read the note," I smile, butterflies in my stomach.
"Hope you enjoyed the gift card, now go find the door to the back yard," he reads, and walks quickly to the balloon sitting next to the back door.
He pops it, and just a note falls out this time. "This is just the beginning, now go find the bunny that's grinning," he reads, and walks to Julianne's room, where her toy bunny is placed perfectly on the bed with the balloon tied around it's arm.
"Are you having fun, daddy?" Jules asks Jug.
"Yeah," Juggie replies, smiling at her. He pops the balloon, and a small pin falls out along with a note. "'World's best dad'" Jughead reads off of the pin. "Aw, thanks Jules," he says, and hugs Juju.
"You're welcome," Julie says, smiling.
"You're gonna be a winner, now go to the place where we eat dinner," Jug reads off of the note, and we walk together to the dining room table.
Jughead pops the balloon and chocolate coins fall out, along with another note. "Enjoy this heap while you walk to the place we sleep," Jughead reads. "Thank you lovey," he says to me, and hands both me and Julie a chocolate coin before eating one himself.
"Let's go!" Juju yells, grabbing Jug's hand and pulling him away from the table and towards the hall that leads to our room.
Jughead and I both laugh, following our daughter towards our bedroom.
He pops the balloon, and a wallet falls out with a note. "This is nice Betts, thank you," Jughead says, kissing me softly before reading the note. "Love you lots, and soon you'll connect the dots. Hope you like this pouch, now go to the couch," he reads off of the paper.
I smile excitedly, while still feeling nervous.
We walk to the couch, where the final balloon sits with a small box next to it.
"Pop the balloon first," I say to him.
He does so, and a picture of him holding Julianne as a baby falls out, along with the final note.
"I love watching you be a dad, and I love being a mother. Want to have another?" Jughead reads, slowing down when he reads the question and looking up at me.
"Open the box," I say softly.
He opens it, and his eyes widen as a smile comes slowly onto his face.
"Oh my god, Betty," he smiles, and kisses me.
I can feel my eyes well up, and I wipe the tears away.
"I can't believe it," he whispers.
"Me neither," I whisper back, and laugh softly.