Jughead watched as Betty looked through the different shelves after getting her copy of Beloved. To say he was angry that Alice not only snatched her phone but took her favorite book was an understatement. He was simply livid. However, he knew showing his anger would only be detrimental towards Betty and he didn't want to cause her any more harm. She would never see any harm again if he had something to say about it.
He watched as a smile tugged at her lips while she read the cover flap of a book resting in her hands. He didn't get it. How could she have gone through the horrors that she did and still be smiling? To be someone's punching bag and their sexual property? He was disgusted with Drew and knew damn fucking well that he wouldn't rest personally until Drew was six feet under. Preferably with Alice Cooper buried next to him. Just then, a soft touch to his arm had him blinking out of his thoughts as he looked down at Betty.
"You okay, Juggie?" Betty asked, concern shining in her emerald orbs. He smiled softly, shaking off his anger for the time being and recognizing he could address it later with the rest of the Serpents.
"Yeah, baby, I'm good," he promised gently, taking great satisfaction as a soft blush kissed her cheeks.
"That's new – baby," she murmured, ducking her head bashfully. He gently tilted her chin up with his index finger, searching her eyes.
"Is it okay?" Jughead asked, once more letting her know everything was her choice. She nodded without hesitation and he smiled.
"Yeah, I like it," she smiled shyly.
He kissed her forehead before wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the counter. "Good." When it was her turn to be rung up, he gently lowered her hand with her wallet. "Let me, baby." It was a soft request and she nodded.
"Thanks," she murmured, watching the transaction take place, and then accepting the bag the cashier handed her. Jughead watched as his eyes trailed over the blonde's form, stiffening at the all too knowing look in his eyes.
"You new to town? Haven't seen you here. I'm Charlie," Charlie said, smirking at Betty. Betty blinked.
"Charmed, Charlie," she said drily. "But, no, I'm not new. You must be."
With that, she turned on the heel of her foot and walked out of the shop, Jughead shooting Charlie a smirk before following her. He quickly caught up to her.
"You okay, Betts?" Jughead asked softly, pressing himself a bit closer to her. She closed the remaining distance as she threaded their fingers together.
"Fine. Charlie is just new, apparently," she chuckled.
"Clearly, if he didn't know you," Jughead teased, although, there was truth burning behind his words. Betty looked up at him, before nodding.
"Yeah," she hummed, before falling quiet, seemingly lost in thought. Jughead gave her what he deemed was an appropriate amount of time before pulling her out of wherever her mind took her.
"Penny for your thoughts, baby?" Jughead asked softly as they continued to walk the street. They'd go back and get his bike in a bit.
She shrugged but shook her head. "Nothing."
"Betts, c'mon, you can talk to me," he urged gently. "I need you to talk to me, okay?"
She laughed slightly and Jughead hated the fact that it sounded choked. "You sound like Pea."
"You're stalling, hon," he said softly, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear tenderly. "You can tell me anything, I hope you know that."
"I do know that Juggie!" Betty insisted and he nodded, waiting for her to continue. "What if she finds me?"
It was a whisper that was laced with so much fear. Jughead didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms, wrapping his tall frame around her as a shield. "She won't get the opportunity to, okay? Do you honestly think Pea would let her? Me?"
Her shoulders shook against his chest and he swore he saw every shade of hellfire in that moment. Alice Cooper didn't deserve to breathe the same air as her two children.
"Hey, hon, shh. It's okay," he soothed, rocking her back and forth gently, shushing her softly. "You're okay. You're with us. Not them." He made sure to enunciate the "them", addressing Drew. He knew, deep down, he was also someone Betts was afraid of. The stiffening of her body only helped confirm his theory.
"I don't want to be hurt by him anymore," she said softly and that sentence alone damn near tore Jughead apart. He held her tighter than he thought possible.
"I swear to God, Betts, he isn't getting anywhere near you," Jughead growled. "Over my dead fucking body."
Betty took one final shuddering exhale before nodding and disengaging herself from his tight grasp gently. She wiped a hand over her face for a moment. "Okay. Yeah, okay." She nodded to herself once more. "I'm okay." She laughed a little.
"You don't have to be, you know that?" Jughead asked carefully. "Not for us."
She bit her lip, opened her mouth, then shut it again just as swiftly as she nodded once more. "I know Jug. We, uh, should probably get back to the bike."
He watched her, knowing she wasn't completely certain of her words, but he didn't press her. "Of course, hon. You hungry?"
"I could eat, yeah," she agreed as they changed direction and headed back to his bike. Once there, he took her purchase from her and placed it in his saddle bag he had on his bike before she got on. Following suit, he turned over his shoulder.
"Pop's?" Jughead asked. "I know for a fact Archie and Ronnie will be there." He watched as she thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Let's go," she agreed.
XXX
They reached Pop's just as the diner's door swung open with a bang and a shrill voice pierced the air.
"Betty!" Veronica Lodge screamed. Jughead felt Betty stiffen for a moment before relaxing.
"Hey, Ronnie," she smiled at the brunette as Veronica all but yanked her into her arms and began fussing over her.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? You're thin, why are you thin? Let's get some food," she exclaimed breathlessly. Someone chuckled.
"Slow down, Ron, and give her a chance to breathe," came the voice of Archie Andrews, eyes lit with amusement. He pulled Ronnie away from Betty and held his arms open, indicating that it was Betty's choice if she wanted the hug or not. Jughead respected him for that.
"Hey Arch," Betty said sweetly, hugging him. When he let her go, he took a step back.
"I'm not going to ask if you're okay, because I doubt you are, and I know I would be mad. I am going to ask if we can buy you guys lunch?" Archie asked, looking at her then Jughead. She looked at Jughead.
"Juggie?" Betty asked softly, threading their fingers together once more. It made Jughead happy to know she was willing to show whatever was going on between them to people outside of the Serpents.
"Yeah, that sounds great, thanks Arch," he said, clapping his friend on the shoulder with his free hand. He caught Ronnie looking at their hands and smirked at her. She grinned as the group made their way into the diner. Just then, a voice spoke up.
"Betty Cooper as I live and breathe," Pop Tate said, hand to his chest. Betty looked at him.
"Pop," she murmured, soft smile tugging at her lips. She kissed the corner of Jughead's lips. "I'll be right back." She went over to hug the older man, laughing as he said something to her.
Archie led the rest of them to a booth. "You and Betty?"
"We're taking things slow," Jughead said, nodding his head between the redhead and Ronnie. "And you two?"
"He'd put a ring on me if I'd let him," Ronnie laughed, her eyes sparkling in both amusement and affection. Jughead realized Quin had been right about Archie being over his crush on Betty. Especially with the tender expression he wore while looking at Veronica Lodge. Maybe Jughead had been too quick to judge them.
"I'm happy to hear that," he replied, smiling at his friends. Just then Betty sat down and tucked herself into Jughead's chest as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Want your usual, baby?" Jughead asked, eyes on her and not the menu.
"You remember?" Betty asked in surprise.
He kissed her forehead gently. "I would never forget anything about you."
It was said teasingly but he knew she understood his sincerity. The rest of the night was spent with the four of them just catching up. Jughead watched as Betty laughed at something Veronica said, catching Archie's eye in the process. There was a knowing look in it – one Jughead wore himself as he watched Archie watch Ronnie. They both smiled slightly but didn't comment on it. They'd figure out how to tell the girls they loved them at a later date.
Author's note: Enjoy! XXX