Juju's pov, 9 years later
A lot has changed in the past few years. I now had two younger brothers, Grayson, who's eight, and Everett, who's six. My parents had decided that three kids was good for them, and I had never gotten the sister I asked for. I'm now twelve and in 6th grade.
"Wake up wake up wake up wake up!" Everett cries as he comes bounding into my room. "Santa came, Santa came! There's presents!" he yells, shaking me.
"Rhett, calm down," I mumble, rolling over.
"Mom said I can't open my presents until you come out and I wanna open my presents! Come on, Juju!" he says, jumping up and down on my carpet.
I sit up and yawn. "Fine, I'm coming," I say.
"Yayyy!" Everett says, and runs back to the living room.
I groggily get out of bed and follow him.
Everyone else is awake. Grayson and Everett are both holding their stockings and seated next to the tree, while my mom and dad are on the section of the couch closest to the tree.
"Mom, she's here, can we open them now?" Grayson asks.
"Let Juju get her stocking first, and then you three can open them at the same time," Mom says, smiling at me. I smile back, and get my stocking from the fireplace.
"Okay, now you can open them," Dad says, and the boys tear into theirs as I slowly take everything out.
I got chapstick, hair ties, American Eagle and Nordstrom gift cards, a hairbrush, and some candy in mine. I see that the boys have assortments of toy cars, markers, scented pencils, card games, and candy around them.
Then we opened our wrapped presents. When I had unwrapped all of mine, I had a journal, three books, new paints and brushes, a pastel purple backpack, and a new pair of shoes.
"Thank you," I tell my parents, and then hug them both.
"We have one more present, and it's for all three of you," Mom says. She smiles at Dad before taking a card out from behind the pillow she was leaning on and handing it to me.
I look at her unsurely.
"Go on, open it" Dad says, smiling.
I open the card. It has Mickey Mouse on the front.
"Oh, read it out loud," Mom adds.
"Okay..." I say. I open the card. "Pack your bags, because we're going to Disneyland!" I read slowly. My mouth drops open.
"We're going to Disney?" asks Grayson.
"Yep. For spring break," Mom says happily.
"Oh my god!" I cry. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I say, and hug my parents again. They laugh as they hug me back.
"We're going to Disneyland, we're going to Disneyland!" says Everett in a singsong voice, jumping around and putting his arms in the air.
"And guess what?" Dad asks.
"What?" Grayson asks.
"My dad, JB, Alex, and Chelsea, Allie, Charles, Brooklyn, Lincoln, Grandma, Polly, Matt, and Veronica are coming too," Dad says.
"No way," I say. "Everyone's coming?"
"Yeah. Won't that be fun?" asks Mom.
"The absolute best," I say.
"I can't wait!" Grayson says.
"It's gonna be the best vacation ever," Everett says.
"It sure will," Dad agrees.
It was hard to sleep the night before we left. It had been Easter that day, and we had all packed that night after everyone had left. Polly and Matt, who lived in San Francisco, were driving down because it was much cheaper than flying, and they would meet us at the hotel. Veronica lived in L.A., so she was already there. For everyone else, though, they would be flying out Monday, the day after Easter.
That morning, we packed the last minute things like phone chargers and toothbrushes and were out the door to meet everyone at the airport.
It was chaotic. There were fourteen of us together, with three eight year olds, a six year old, and JB and Alex's two year old daughter Chelsea. The kids all wanted to run around, but weren't allowed to and were getting restless.
Finally, we made it onto the plane. There was nowhere with fourteen empty seats, and we had to split up. I sat with my mom and Brooklyn. Allie, Charles, and Lincoln were behind us, and Dad, Everett, and Grayson were across from us. JB, Alex, and Chelsea were a few rows behind, and my grandparents had been unable to find seats with any of us, so my grandma was in the front alone and grandpa was farther back.
After a plane ride that seemed to take days, we were in L.A.'s airport.
From there, we took an Uber to the hotel.
My family and I had two rooms, one for me and the boys and one for my parents.
"Juju, want to come on a walk with me?" Mom asked after dinner that night.
I shrug. "Sure," I reply.
"Allie and Brooklyn are coming as well," she says.
I pull on my shoes, and we meet Ally and Brooklyn outside.
We start walking around. "So," my mom starts.
"What would you girls say to going with us to Universal Studios on Wednesday?" Allie asks.
"You're not serious, are you?" I ask.
"Of course we'd say yes!" Brooklyn says.
"Great, because we were gonna bring you guys anyway, even if you said no," Mom says.
"I'm so excited for this week," I say.
"Me too," Mom says, and hugs me from the side.
The next day, we went to Disneyland. It was hard going around in such a big group, so we split up and stayed on the California Adventure side that day. We would sometimes run into each other in line, or meet up to go on a certain ride together. We all met up at lunch.
I noticed my Mom was acting slightly strange, but it slipped my mind for the most part.
The next day, Mom, Brooklyn, Allie and I went to Universal Studios. We woke up extra early and drove up, and got breakfast before going to Citywalk, where we waited until the park opened. We went on a few rides, and then Brooklyn and I both got wands, although I got the experience of being chosen to have my wand given to me.
We got one of the giant donuts, and then went on the Simpsons ride, which made me feel sick. We took a tour of the studio lots, with the fake houses and famous sets.
After that, we went on the rest of the rides and got dinner. We walked around Citywalk one more time, and then drove back to the hotel.
"That was the best, Mom" I told her as we walked back to our room.
"It was pretty great, wasn't it?" she responded, and then we walked into our hotel room.
Betty's pov
The next few days were fun, but tiring. On Friday, the second to last night, I just couldn't fall asleep. I had felt nauseous all week, which I had at first equated to the rides, but I was now starting to doubt that theory. Finally, I decided to go test my new theory.
I left Jughead a quick note, then silently left the hotel room. I walked to a drugstore a few blocks away. It was pretty empty, being around one in the morning, and only two other people were in there.
I walked to the isle that had pregnancy tests and picked one up. I'd buy another, more expensive one if this one was positive. I bought the test and went into the dingy bathroom to take it.
After waiting three minutes, I flipped it over and saw the two pink lines on it. I gasp a little, staring down at it. Could I really be pregnant? I always said I wanted four kids, but there would be a six year age gap between this one and Everett, a nine year age gap between them and Grayson, who would turn nine next month, and a thirteen year age gap between them and Julianne, who would turn thirteen the month after next. That is, if I am pregnant.
I walked back to the pregnancy test isle and bought two more, another one that did two lines and one that said pregnant or not pregnant.
I bought those, and then went and took them. I flipped the one with the lines over first. Two lines again. Then, the one that would say pregnant or not pregnant. I shut my eyes as I flipped it, and held it in my hand for a while until I'm ready to look at it.
'Pregnant' it read.
I take a deep breath.
"There's a baby in me," I whisper to myself. After a few moments to compose myself, I put the tests in my bag and walk back to the hotel.
Jughead was still asleep when I walked in. I threw the note into my bag and flopped down onto the bed. Whether it was the exhaustion getting to me or the knowledge that I was indeed pregnant calming me down, I fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, I came up with my plan on telling Jughead.
"Veronica," I said as everyone was walking up to the hotel rooms to get their stuff for Disneyland.
"Yeah, Betty?" she replied. I saw someone side-eye her, as she was now rather famous.
"I wanted to spend the last day with Jughead, on a kind of date, couple-ey thing, so could you maybe watch the kids for the day?" I ask.
"Of course, B! I'm always down to watch them. Plus, we'll be with everyone else. They'll have a great time," Veronica says.
"Thank you so much, V, you're the best," I tell her.
"No, you are," she says, smiling.
"How can I be if you already took that title?" I ask.
She smiles even wider. "I love you, B," she says.
"Love you too, V," I say, and then we walk back up to the hotel room.
At Disneyland, Jughead and I walked around and went on a few of the calmer rides together. I'd been going on roller coasters all week and nothing had happened, but thought it best to avoid the more thrilling rides now that I knew.
"Jug, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. You should go on this one while you wait, I don't wanna go on it and the line to the bathroom is probably miles long," I lie.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'll meet you after, then," Jughead says.
"Yeah. I'll wait by the tables over there, we can get lunch once you're off," I tell him.
He disappears into the line, and I run off in the direction of the bathrooms. Once I'm past them, I find the nearest clothing shop and walk in. After looking around a little while, I find a baby onesie and decide it's perfect. I quickly buy it and run back to the tables I told Jughead I'd meet him at.
After waiting a few minutes, Jughead came out.
"Let's go get lunch," I say, and we find a corn dog stand and buy one each. I decided to give him the onesie after we finished eating. I had it in my bag, with the pregnancy test wrapped inside it.
"I have a gift for you," I say, smiling.
"Really?" Jughead asks, looking curious.
"Yeah. Close your eyes and hold out your hands," I tell him. He does as I say.
I pull out the folded onesie with the test inside and place it in his hands. "Open," I say.
He opens his eyes and looks down. He then looks back up at me. "Betts, is this-?" he asks.
I smile. "Unfold it," I tell him.
He does, and the pregnancy test falls out.
"Betty, you're- are you pregnant?" He asks, looking at me with awe.
I nod. "Yeah. We're gonna have another baby," I say softly.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it. This is amazing," Jughead says.
"I know. I found out last night," I tell him.
"I'm just... this is crazy, I'm so excited," he says.
"Me too," I say, and we hug. "I love you."
"I love you more," Jughead says.
"Not possible," I mumble.
Jughead laughs delicately. "When should we tell the kids?"
"What about tomorrow morning, at breakfast? Everyone will be together, they'll all know at once," I suggest.
"That sounds perfect," Jughead agrees.
"Okay, we'll do it then," I say. "Now, wanna go on a few more calm rides before we go back to the hotel?" I ask
"Sure," Jug agrees.
We go on Pirates of the Caribbean, Small World, the Haunted Mansion, go on the Boudin Bakery tour, and finally the Grand Circle tour before heading back to the hotel to rest a little before everyone else comes back.
Julianne's pov, the next morning
The last morning was bittersweet. We'd all had an amazing time and didn't want it to end, but at the same time, I was excited to see my friends again.
We ate one last breakfast at the hotel buffet. After everyone was finished and hanging around, my mom spoke up.
"We have an announcement," she says. I look up from my plate, confused.
"Oh, me too," Polly says.
"You do?" Dad asks.
"Yeah," Matt says, putting his arm around Polly.
"You guys go first," Mom tells them.
"No, you should go first," Polly says.
"Uh... are you sure?" Dad asks, looking at them.
"Yeah, now tell us your announcement," Matt says, smiling.
"Okay," Mom starts. She glances at Dad, who smiles at her, before saying, "I'm pregnant."
My eyes widen and I stare at her.
Polly looks at Matt, shocked. "Oh my god, we're adopting a baby!" she cries.
Mom's mouth drops open, and she puts her hand over it. "No way!" she cries, standing up.
"Yeah, we found out a few days ago that someone chose us," Polly says.
"That's amazing, Pol," Mom says, walking around the table and hugging her.
"That's amazing for you too, Betty," Polly says, hugging her back.
"Well, seeing as everyone else is getting a baby, we might as well have another one," Allie jokes.
"We said no to that a long time ago, baby," Charles says, pushing some of Allie's hair out of her face.
"I'm joking, calm down," Allie says, laughing.
"Yep," Charles nods.
"Let's have a toast," Grandma suggests.
We all pick up our glasses. "To family," Dad says.
"To family," everyone repeats, and we toast.
The End
Hi! Hope you all enjoyed the story. I have a sequel I've been working on that I should begin publishing soon enough. Unlike this one, I have not yet finished it, and updates may therefore be slow. It's called Julianne Jones. I would also appreciate if you checked out other stories that I will publish soon enough. Have a good day!
-Z