Previously-
"Allie... are you... pregnant?" I ask her.
"Um..."
Betty's pov
Allie looks at the floor, pressing her lips together. She shrugs a little, fidgeting with the bracelet on her wrist.
I stand patiently, waiting for her answer.
"I knew you'd be the one to figure it out," she finally says. She pulls the sweatshirt up, and I can see the defined baby bump on her stomach.
"Is that why you didn't want to swim yesterday?" I ask her.
"Yeah," she nods. She looks like she's about to say more, but she stays silent.
"So, how far along are you?" I ask her.
"Nine weeks," she replies.
"Nice," I smile.
She breaks the cookie into smaller pieces, slowly eating it. "Do you want some?" She asks me.
"No, it's fine," I tell her, smiling.
We walk silently back up to our rooms. We get to mine first. "Night, Allie," I say, putting my hand on the doorknob.
"Night, Betty," she replies, smiling mysteriously at me before turning and heading down the hall to her room.
At the wedding
"Mama, when does it start?" Juju asks me, tugging impatiently at the end of her hair.
"Soon, baby," I say just as the music starts.
I watch as the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle, and then I see Allie. She looks stunning. Her hair is pulled into a braided and twisted updo at the back of her head. Her dress is elegant and long, the sleeves made of delicate lace. It hugs her small but defined bump perfectly, leaving you to wonder if it's really there or just the dress.
She gets to the front, and stands next to Charles.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the love of Charles Cooper and Allison Clark" the officiator says. After he says a few more things, it's time for the vows.
"Allie, from the second I laid eyes on you I knew you were the one for me. When we went on our first date, I realized I could never let you go. You're so amazing, and smart, and funny, and beautiful, and you amaze me every day. I want to wake up next to you every day, and go to sleep next to you every night. I can't imagine ny life with you and I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone," Charles says, not leaving an eye dry. He looks carefully at her, and she nods ever-so-slightly. "And..." he says, and with one last look at her, he continues. "I cannot wait to have these babies with you," he smiles.
I freeze. "Did- did he just say babies? As in... plural?" I ask Jughead.
There's whispers throughout the crowd.
"I- I think so," Jughead replies.
"Babies?" JB asks, tapping my shoulder. I shrug.
I look up, seeing Allie and Charles looking at all of us, Allie practically radiating joy.
She then turns back to Charles as everyone watches intensely, wondering how she'll reply.
"Charles, I have loved you from the moment I met you. You are the best person I've ever met. I never thought I could love someone like I love you. You're the kind of man every mother wants their son to grow into. You're caring, and compassionate, and brave. I miss you every moment we're not together, and I could never get through this without you," Allie says, placing a hand on her stomach as she says that, and Charles puts his hand on hers.
"Charles Cooper, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" The officiator asks.
"I do," Charles beams, his eyes sparkling with tears.
"Allison Clark, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Allie smiles, wiping a tear from her eye and smiling at Charles, her eyes like hearts.
"Rings?" The officiator asks, and Allie and Charles are handed the rings to place on each other's fingers.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the officiator says once the rings are on. "You may now kiss the bride."
Allie leans in, and Charles wraps his arms around her, hugging her close and kissing her passionately.
They let go, but keep their hands together, and look at all of us, back at each other, and then finally at the crowd.
"So, you may have heard Charles say 'babies' and I thought I'd explain a bit," Allie says, looking at Charles for one last bit of assurance before continuing. "I'm pregnant. With twins," she smiles, somehow fuller than it was during the vows.
Everyone starts talking at once, and people stand up to congratulate the couple, both on the marriage and the babies.
Our group of eight stands up, thankfully at the front, and we're able to get to them first, but listen to many others talk before we can.
"Oh my gosh, twins?! What? That's crazy, congratulations!" I say, hugging Allie.
"It was so hard not to tell you, since you knew I was pregnant, I wanted to talk to you all about it, but didn't want to fully ruin the surprise," Allie says.
"Wait, you knew?" My mom asks me.
"I figured it out on the first night we were here, I had gone for a late night walk while she was getting a late night snack," I tell her.
"You didn't even tell me!" Jug says, pretending to be offended.
"Sorry, but I thought she'd want to keep as little people in the loop as possible," I laugh.
"When are you due?" JB asks, finally speaking up. She had been very quiet around Allie until then, barely saying hi.
Allie smiles, happy JB finally said something. "July ninth," she replies.
"Nice," JB smiles nervously, twisting the necklace around her neck.
We then go to the reception, and laugh and talk a lot, having the time of our lives.
Two days later
"It's gender reveal time!" Charles calls, knocking on our door.
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute, hold on!" I call back, adjusting my hair one last time before leaving the bathroom.
I get Juju in her shoes as Jughead grabs our bag, and we meet Charles, Allie, my mom, Fp, JB, Polly, and Matt in the hall.
"You still take forever to get ready in the mornings," Polly rolls her eyes.
"We have a kid. Do you?" I ask her playfully. She rolls her eyes again, and then laughs.
We all walk down to the beach, everyone begging for the gender the whole way.
"So, how're you gonna tell us?" Allie asks.
"We have a pair of baby flip flops that we're gonna bury in the sand and you guys have to dig them up and the color tells the gender," Jug explains.
"Oh, but it's either purple or green, purple for a girl and green for a boy," I tell them.
We make it to the beach and set up our stuff. Jug and I each grab a shovel and begin digging a hole. Once it's deep enough, we throw the tiny flip flops in and cover them back up, drawing an x where we buried them so we'd remember. Then we grab the others and wait for the real fun to begin.
"Okay guys, just dig until you find the flip flops" Jug instructs them as everyone huddles around the x on the ground.
They all start digging, desperately trying to reach the flip flops.
"I think I see them!" Polly cries after a few minutes. She pulls one of them up.
"It's a boy!" JB calls, holding up the other.
"Oh my god you're having a boy!" My mom cries, screeching "boy" at the end.
"Juju, you're gonna have a little brother!" Charles says, picking Juju up and spinning her around.
I smile, watching Juju spin through the air as Charles holds onto her, both laughing.
Allie makes her way over to me, watching Charles with Juju the whole time.
"He's gonna be an amazing dad," I say to her.
"I know," Allie sighs. "I can't wait. I'm so excited."
"I'm so excited for you two to have kids. And twins? I still can't believe that it's twins!" I say,
"I know, I can't believe it either. Like, I have not one but two babies growing inside of me," Allie says.
"Do you know if they're identical or fraternal?" I ask her.
"Fraternal. So it could be two boys, two girls, or one of each," Allie says.
"Nice" I smile.