Five years. Five miserable fucking years. That's how long it's been since Jughead Jones and the rest of the sleepy town of Riverdale had seen or heard from Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper.

The night she ran away was one of the worst nights of Jughead's young life. Everything started out fine but then it all fell apart in the span of a few hours: his Dad got roped back into the Serpents, Betty got on stage at the Whyte Wyrm and stripped in front of the majority of the Southside, and Jughead broke her heart. Pushed her away, told her to leave and be done with him and his life and to never look back.

He thought he was protecting her, that it was the only way to keep her safe from the bullshit that he had gotten himself into. He never wanted this kind of life for himself, let alone for Betty. Betty, the only girl he has ever loved. The only girl who held and broke his heart. The only girl he has ever truly wanted to spend his life with.

Jughead can still remember that night like it was yesterday...

"How many times, Jug? How many times are we gonna push each other away?" Betty said while stepping towards him, tears and anger filling her eyes.

"Until it sticks. That was my dad's one chance of going straight and I wrecked it! I'm not going to destroy you too." Betty stood in shock and confusion at Jughead's angry demeanor. She didn't understand how things went so sideways just from her wanting to be apart of her world. Jughead let out a frustrated sigh, turning his back on her in an attempt to walk away.

"Just tell me what happened, Jug. Jug!" She whispered, stepping forward to grab him by his jacket and swinging him around to face her. She placed her hands on his cheeks so he would look at her but even with tears in his eyes his face had gone cold.

"Don't leave, please." Betty could feel him slipping away from her, just like before and her heart was shattering. She couldn't lose him again, she wasn't sure if her heart could take it. Jughead pushed himself out of her embrace, backing away from her.

"Go home." Jughead doesn't even give her a second glance as he turns and walks away towards the doors of the Whyte Wyrm. Betty's teary eyes follow him, not allowing herself to break until he is all the way back in the bar.

Go home. Those were the very last words that Jughead would ever say to her. The last words that the love of his life ever heard him speak. He hated himself for saying those words every single day of the last five years. Jughead used to be a believer in not living with regrets, but that was the one thing that changed him. Jughead didn't regret a lot but if he regretted anything in his life, losing Betty Cooper was it.

Nothing ever eased the pain he felt for what he did to Betty that night. No matter how deep he threw himself into the Serpents, no matter how many one night stands he had trying to forget his first love, no matter how much alcohol he drank. Nothing could take away the blame he shouldered for the part he played in her disappearance.

Jughead could still feel the anger he felt the next morning when he saw Alice Cooper marching into the bar looking for his head on a pike, screaming and crying about how Betty had run away. She had cleaned out her college fund, packed a small bag, and left town before Alice had a chance to try and stop her.

" . ?! What in the hell did you do to my baby? This is your fault! You pushed her to this and now she is God only knows where! I hope you Jones' are happy. That's two Cooper women you monsters have destroyed! I hate you, both of you. I hope you burn in hell for this," Alice shouted at a very hungover FP and an extremely confused Jughead.

Before she walked away, Alice tossed a balled up piece of paper at Jughead's face and turned to stomp out of the Whyte Wyrm, tears streaming down her face.

Jughead shook his head, desperately trying to clear his thoughts so he could at least attempt to finish the books for the bar before it got too late in the day. It took him almost 4 years but he had finally legitimized the gang and turned the Wyrm into a thriving business.

It took a lot of time but he and his father were finally able to get rid of Penny Peabody and the Ghoulies, successfully running them out of town after their attempt on Jughead's life. So much had changed in Riverdale since then and he wanted nothing more than to bring Betty home.

Almost on instinct, Jughead pulled out his wallet, unfolding the letter he had read countless times over the years. He laid it flat on the desk and picked up his cigarettes to light one before he began reading the all too familiar words again.


Juggie,

I honestly don't know if you'll ever see this letter, but I wanted to at least write it in the hopes that one-day you would come across it and understand why I decided to do what I'm about to do.

After you left me standing alone in the parking lot, I lost it and ran to Sweetwater River. Part of me just wanted to jump in but I knew I could never put that pain on you. I sat there and spent the better portion of tonight thinking about what you said.

I got to thinking about all the things that we've been through in the last year, about how you said we need to stay away to protect each other, and I finally made a decision. I feel like the only way to truly give you what you want is for me to leave Riverdale for good. Tonight.

I know that for myself, and how deeply in love with you I am, there is no way I could stay away from you or keep myself from fighting for us if I'm still here. You are the only thing that has ever truly brought me happiness and I'm so grateful for the time we've had together, even if it was gone too soon. You've been my rock to stand on when I am weak, my anchor that keeps me grounded, and without you, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back the darkness that I can already feel rising in me.

Please don't blame yourself for this Juggie. I understand why you did what you did. You had to think about your Dad and you did what you thought was right by him and by us. I don't blame you, I know I had to make a similar choice not long ago even though it killed me to do it. I just beg you: please, don't ever doubt yourself Jug. You always were and always will be enough for me. And I know you will be enough for the next girl who wins your heart.

You were my happy ending Jug. The future I prayed for every night, the only love I ever needed. I need you to understand it will only ever be you who holds my heart. If I can't give you anything else to remember me by, just know I am leaving that with you.

I hope you find all the happiness and love in the world. I hope you do all the things you want in your life and that I will see your name on the best sellers lists one day. I believe in you Juggie.

Never forget how much I love you and how proud I am that you were the person to show me what true love really was.

Always & Forever Yours,

Betts 3


Jughead feels a tear roll down his cheek as he takes another shaky draw from his cigarette. Even after all this time his heart still clenches when he reads her words. It took him a few years and a few more mistakes but he finally found a few leads to where she might be. And he still hasn't given up on the hope that he'll find her one day and spend the rest of his life making his mistakes up to her.

Jughead's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on his office door.

"Hey Jones, what ya doing tonight?" Toni Topaz, Jughead's best friend and business partner, popped her head in to see paperwork strewn all over Jughead's mahogany desk. She could tell he was knee deep in a mound of work but she was hoping that he would at least hear her out before shooting her plans down. Jughead rolled his eyes at the petite woman in front of him.

"What does it look like Toni? I gotta finish the books for the week, plus I need to get the inventory finished so we can put in next week's order, not to mention-" Toni raised her hand to stop his rambling. She knew all of the things that needed to be done but she also knew Jughead deserved a break, at least for one night.

"Ok, ok. I get it man, you're busy. But..." Jughead tucked the letter back into his wallet and put his smoke out in the ashtray before turning to look at Toni. "Sweets and I have decided. You're coming out with us tonight, no bitching and no excuses." Jughead sighed heavily, shaking his head at her plans before he even heard them.

"Look, there's this new club in Greendale that just opened called The Black Cat and I've heard they have an old fashioned burlesque and peep show. It's supposed to be a hell of a lot of fun and since it's a Friday night there should be plenty of hot girls just looking to get laid," Toni said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at him.

Jughead pulled out another cigarette and lit it. He took a long drawl and rubbed his temple while blowing it out slowly.

"Toni. We have been over this. I'm done with all the meaningless hook-ups, have been for years now. The next person I have sex with will be her. Plus, Kevin called and said Charlie may have gotten a few leads on where she might be now so I was gonna go meet them at the house later to see what he found," Jughead raked his hands through his hair in frustration. Toni knew he didn't want to be with anyone else, not since he found out that he may have a chance to find her.

It took several months after being left behind by The Farm, and extensive deprogramming in a facility upstate, before Kevin Keller was able to come back to Riverdale and reclaim his old life. He had a hard time adjusting at first but with Jughead's help he was able to find the strength to survive the shame he felt and move on with his life.

It was a couple years after graduation that Kevin decided to become a private investigator in the hopes of finding The Farm and stopping them from hurting others with their human organ harvesting. He didn't want the same thing that happened to him to happen to some other poor unsuspecting person.

While running down leads on where they could have gone, Jughead and Kevin were able to find Betty's long lost brother, Charles Smith. Well more accurately, he found them. Charles came to the Jones/Cooper household looking for Alice but found Jughead instead. After Betty's disappearance Alice fell headfirst into a downward spiral. When her marriage fell apart after it came to light that Hal was having an affair with Penelope Blossom, she became a recluse and fell prey to the lies of Edgar Evernever and The Farm.

It took a lot of planning but after becoming the new sheriff of Riverdale, Jughead's Dad managed to pull Alice out of The Farm's clutches and he successfully convinced her that Edgar had brainwashed her and her daughter Polly.

Alice moved back into her home on Elm Street and through all the tribulations, was able to rekindle her high school romance with FP Jones. When the trailer park was burned in the gang war, Jughead and FP moved to the Northside to live with Alice.

Jughead wasn't keen on the idea at first but ultimately caved so he could at least feel closer to Betty in some way. Alice was able to find a way to forgive him for Betty leaving but only after he promised Alice that he would bring her home one day.

When Charles showed up on their doorstep three years ago, FBI badge in tow, they all learned that he had been watching them ever since he learned that his mother had become a victim of The Farm and both his sister's had gone missing.

Jughead and FP were completely floored when Alice finally admitted that FP, not Hal, was Charles' real father. Charles agreed to help look for both Polly and Betty if Alice would help him find a way to bring down Edgar Evernever. And when Charles met Kevin, it was almost like it was meant to be. They fell in love almost instantly and married within a year.

Since then, the brothers and Kevin had been working night and day to actively investigate every lead in Betty's disappearance, as well as Polly's, in the hopes that they could find them both someday. Jughead spent every waking moment he could searching for any sign of Betty or Polly.

It was one of the things that drove him to legitimize the Serpents and open his auto repair shop and tattoo parlor on the Southside. He wanted to have places where his guys were able to get real paying jobs and make honest money doing things they loved to do. He also hired Serpents to work at the Wyrm, which was now essentially a full blown nightclub, to work the bar and security details.

Toni had gotten an insurance pay out after her grandfather passed away and was able to become partners in the business' with Jughead and keep the bar afloat until they were able to remodel and rebrand the Whyte Wyrm as Riverdale's newest hot spot for nightlife.

Ever since then, Jughead spent all his time working at one of his establishments or searching for Betty and Toni could see he needed a break from it all before he burned himself out.

"Look, I get it Jones, I do. But no one is saying you have to go there looking to sleep with anyone. Just come out and have a good time with your friends for a little bit, like the old days. Hell and maybe help your single best friend get a hook-up with a hot girl? Please? I swear I'll do all the paperwork for the next 2 months if you do this one thing for me. Pleeease?" Toni begged, hands clasped together and hopping up and down. Jughead chuckled lightly at her childishness, figuring he probably could use a night off to clear his head. It had been a long time since he went out with his friends just to have fun and he didn't want to disappoint them yet again. He finished off his cigarette and dusted off his hands.

"You know what Topaz? I'm in. Just let me text Kevin and Charlie to let them know that I'll meet them at their place in the morning, and then we can head out."


Betty Cooper has spent the better part of the last five years running from her past. Moving all over the state and living under an assumed name so no one could find her had been extremely tiring for the 21 year old dancer.

She was so happy to finally be settling in one place for more than a few months and was looking forward to the future ahead of her in this new life.

As she stared at her reflection in her vanity's mirror, she thought about how she'd never expected to be at this place in her life at this age. The old Betty Cooper had other plans and dreams: college and love and friends. But not all dreams are meant to come true, and hers all came crashing down in one chilly night.

The night she left her old life and love behind her for good.

What should've been a happy night where she and the boy she loved celebrated her joining his world, tragically turned into one where she would end up running to the one person in Riverdale that she thought would help her disappear, no questions asked, and no trying to talk her out of it.

Cheryl Blossom.

She and Cheryl had never been the best of friends growing up but after finding out that not only did they share a niece and nephew but that they were also cousins as well, they formed a truce of sorts.

Then, Betty's role in helping to find out who really killed Cheryl's brother Jason and in saving Cheryl's life from the frozen river allowed them to bond an unlikely alliance that remains strong to this day.

Betty's eyes flicker to the picture of her and Cheryl standing in front of the first Black Cat Club grand opening, Betty in a black wig and shimmering silver dress and Cheryl in her signature blood red attire. She smiled, thinking of how far she and Cheryl had come together after the night she ran away.

Betty climbed down the latter that she kept propped up at her window as quietly as possible before dropping to the soft grass. She turned to make sure Archie's bedroom lights were still out before bending down to sling her cheer bag onto her arm. She took one last look at her childhood home before she turned and ran as fast as she could through the woods of Fox Forest.

She knew her destination was just on the edge of these woods and she had to get there as quickly as possible before her mother or father noticed that she was missing and sent out the bloodhounds.

Betty reached the clearing to Thistle House just as the rain started to pick up. She ran up the stairs and knocked frantically on the front door, hoping and praying that Cheryl would answer and not her mother, Penelope. It only took a few minutes before the door flew open to reveal a very angry and tired looking Cheryl.

"Alright, this had better be good- oh, well. Betty Cooper. What in the world are you doing on Thistle House's doorstep at 4 in the morning? Shouldn't you be writhing in a snake pit somewhere with that hobo prince of yours?" Cheryl quipped cooly.

It wasn't until Betty stepped closer into the light spilling from the doorway that Cheryl could see the red eyes and tears staining Betty's cheeks. She instantly berated herself for her normal cruel demeanor and put her hand over her heart.

"Oh dear cousin, are you alright? Has someone hurt you?" Cheryl asked softly, enveloping Betty into a warm hug. Betty buried her face into Cheryl's hair and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Cheryl, I need... your help. Please? I know- I know we have our differences-," Betty choked out between sobs, clinging desperately to the ginger. Cheryl smoothed down her hair, shushing her soothingly.

"Hush with that now sweet cousin. Regardless of our differences, we are still family. What can I help with Betty? Do you need me to bury Jerk-Head on the grounds somewhere, because there is an open crypt in the backwoods that I think would fit his dark and dreary aesthetic perfectly," Betty couldn't help but laugh through her tears at Cheryl's attempt to make her feel better.

"No Cheryl, I don't need you to murder anyone. But this is about Jug. I-well... we-um... Actually," Betty took a deep breath, "he broke up with me tonight. I did something incredably stupid, that I thought would make him happy, but he lost it. Told me he couldn't be with me anymore and pushed me away. Told me to go home and essentially never come back. And Cheryl, I just can't do this anymore. I'm so tired. Tired of the pain, tired of the darkness, tired of everything. I'm just... I'm done. I need to leave town and you're the only person I know who can help me and I know you won't try to change my mind. Please Cheryl, help me to disappear?" Betty put her face in her hands and sobbed some more, trying but failing to pull herself together.

"Oh Betty, of course I'll help you. You're a Blossom after all. And I feel very honored that out of everyone, I'm the person you came to for this. Come inside before anyone asks questions and we will see about getting you out of Riverdale," Cheryl held out her hand for Betty to take and brought her into her sanctuary.

From that moment on, Betty Cooper was a ghost. For all intents and purposes, she no longer existed. Cheryl had contacted a friend of the family that night whom she knew could forge paperwork and after a few hours and a hefty payment, Betty Cooper of Riverdale officially became Juliet Jones of Brooklyn. Betty left that very night in a car Cheryl hired in order to take her to the city so she could start her new life.

Cheryl helped to set Betty up with a bank account under her new identity that would also allow Cheryl to drop Betty money from time to time. In order to help her start her new life, Cheryl provided her with a new cell phone, a small cushion of funds, and a fully furnished apartment in Brooklyn.

Cheryl even had her "contacts" make sure that "Betty Cooper" popped up in different cities around the state for the last five years that were the exact opposite places from where Betty really was living at the time so that anyone who went looking would just hit repeated dead ends.

It wasn't until a month after she left Riverdale to move into her walk up apartment in Brooklyn that she found out that she was pregnant with her son, JJ. Betty had been both terrified and overjoyed, all at the same time, when she saw those two pink lines.

She wasn't sure how she was going to raise a baby alone in the city but she knew that no matter what, she couldn't go back to Riverdale. Not if Jughead really wanted it to be over for good. Not if it was going to stick.

She knew that if she went home, Jughead would want to get back together and raise the child as a couple. And she didn't want to go back and be that couple who were only together for their kid. She saw how that turned out with Jug's parents and she wasn't about to let history repeat itself.

Betty knew it would be difficult but she was perfectly content with being a single mother, even if she would only be 17 when her child was born. Betty was happy with the knowledge that the universe saw fit to give her a piece of Jughead to always remember their love by.

Seven and a half months later on a chilly October morning James Pendleton Jones was born. Betty thought it only fitting that her baby boy would arrive just a few days before his father turned 17. JJ was born with the brightest blue eyes and fuzzy black curls and Betty instantly fell in love with her son.

Even though it had been 5 years, Betty still hadn't gotten over her son's father, nor did she believe she ever would. No matter how many times she tried and failed to start a relationship it never helped. She had a few drunken one night stands but they only left her more hollow.

That was why she had decided when JJ turned 3 years old that she was done trying to find someone new. If she was destined to find love again, she would. There was no point in pushing the issue only to be let down again. Besides, with her current career choice she wasn't likely to meet Prince Charming.

Over the years, Cheryl and Betty had remained close, becoming much more like sisters than cousins, and had even gone into business together. Along with Cheryl's longtime girlfriend, Sabrina Spellman, they had opened a string of burlesque clubs across New York state with the newest one having opened last month in Greendale.

This club was a bit different than the rest because Betty decided she needed to find a more stable gig then constantly hopping from town to town, so it was decided that she would be the headlining act at The Black Cat - Greendale.

Betty had been making money as a dancer ever since that night at the Wyrm. She started her career in burlesque at 18 after spending two years stripping at different clubs in order to pay the bills and keep clothes on her son's back.

Even with Cheryl's help, it was hard for the first few years. That was, until the first Black Cat club opened in downtown Manhattan. It had been a huge success and had made the girls a boatload of money in the first year.

Since then, they had opened four more clubs and Betty had been a special performer at them all at one point or another. But now that JJ was starting pre-k, Betty wanted to have a more stable schedule and quiet life like the one she had growing up. And that meant being here for him full-time instead of having to leave him with Cheryl when she had a show to do upstate.

"B, you know I don't mind watching my nephew. JJ means just as much to me as Juny and Daggy do, you know that." Cheryl said after tucking JJ into his bed in Cheryl and Sabrina's spare room.

In the beginning it had been strange hearing Cheryl refer to her son by her dead brothers nickname. It seemed creepy and weird. However, over the years Betty had come to realize that it made Cheryl feel like she had Jason back, in a way.

Polly had left the twins with Alice before disappearing with The Farm but Cheryl didn't get to see them much for fear that someone would find out she knew where Betty was. She figured if it helped Cheryl cope, where was the harm in that. So then, the nickname just kind of stuck.

"I know that Cher, but it's not just that. I want to be here for myself too. I love performing, you know this, but I hate the traveling aspect of it all. J is about to start school and I at least want some sense of normalcy for him, even if his Mommy has chosen Burlesque as her career path," Betty sighed, hoping that Cheryl will understand why she wants this so much.

Betty had found a beautiful little cottage that was set back in the woods close to the Greendale side of Sweetwater River that made her feel like she was home. Plus, after putting in her offer on the house, she had already put her townhouse in Albany up for sale. So she needed to make this a permanent life decision and Cheryl was the deciding factor.

"Lord cousin, you make it sound like you're still some common stripper dancing in those dives in the city. You left that life behind a long time ago. You, my darling Betty, are an artist. Don't you ever downplay or sully what it is you do. You are amazing and I don't ever want to hear you being ashamed of your chosen career. I am so damned proud of how far you've come, B." Cheryl said, pulling her in and hugging Betty tight.

"Thanks Cher, love you." Betty smiled and hugged her 'sister' back.

Betty smiled to herself and began to apply her makeup backstage, getting ready for her very first show as a permanent headliner. She had just finished gluing down her false lashes when her phone showed an incoming FaceTime from her babysitter, Alyssa.

Betty grinned as she slid the green button and the face of her 4 year old son popped up, waving frantically at the camera while squealing. She could see chocolate syrup all around his mouth and Betty giggled.

"Mommy, Mommy, 'lyssa made pizza for me and we had scream sundaes for dessert too! I had sugar worms on top!" JJ giggled as well then began sticking his tongue out to lick the chocolate syrup from around his mouth.

Betty couldn't help but laugh at his attempt. Honestly, her heart always melted for him and his love of food. It always made her think of his father at that age. True to the Jones DNA, JJ not only looked nearly identical to his father but he also inherited the Jones' appetite and metabolism as well.

"It's ice cream sundae baby, ice cream." Betty corrected while chuckling. "Did Miss Lyssa give you your bath and read you your night-night story already?" Betty could see Alyssa walk up to JJ and begin to wipe his face clean with a wet washcloth. He scrunched his face up before answering his mother.

"Yes Mommy, she let me eat my sundae while she read to me, we had lots of fun! I wanted to tell you g'night before she tucked me in. I love you Mommy!" JJ smiled and blew a kiss to Betty. She pretended to catch it and press it to her cheek then blew him one so he could do the same.

"Mommy loves you too, J. You be a good boy for Miss Lyssa and tomorrow we'll have churro waffles for breakfast, ok baby?" Betty blew her son another kiss and told him goodnight before ending the call to finish getting ready for her set. She was so happy that she had finally found stability and she just knew that this was going to be good for them both. She could feel it in her bones.


By the time Jughead and his friends arrived at the club, the second act of the night was in full swing. Several beautiful girls with large feather fans danced across the stage, singing sultry songs while the patrons catcalled and cheered.

Normally this type of place wasn't really Jughead's scene, but he had promised Toni and Sweet Pea that he would at least attempt to put his mind to rest and have a good time tonight.

As they made their way to an empty table close to the stage, Jughead noticed a spritely platinum blonde behind the counter mixing drinks beside a very familiar redhead. Jughead couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Cheryl Blossom was bartending at a burlesque club, given that she was the lone heir to the Blossom fortune.

"Hey guys, am I seeing things or is that not Cheryl Blossom behind the bar?" Jughead asked, pointing towards her, confused. They turned to see Cheryl pass by the blonde, smacking her on the bottom and giggling as she walked to the other end of the bar to fill another drink order.

"Yeah, the one and only. Apparently, she owns this place and like four other clubs just like it. Blondie behind the counter is her girlfriend or so I have heard. I also heard they own it together with the headliner of this particular club, Julie or Jaime Something-or-nother. I can't remember what Ethel said," Toni shrugged, turning back towards the stage as the fan dance ended. Jughead could see where the stagehands were setting up a pitch black clawfoot tub for the final act.

"Jesus Tone, you got a recommendation for this place from the girl whose advances I've been dodging since 6th grade? Now she's gonna want to talk to me about how I liked it. Ugh," Jughead banged his head on the table before waving down a waitress dressed as a cigarette girl. "We can smoke in here right?" After the girl confirmed, Jughead proceeded to light up a smoke to calm his nerves.

As the curtain was closing another much shorter and curvier waitress dressed in a black and pink corset (complete with matching garter belt and sheer black stockings) came up to the table to take their drink orders. She was making eyes at Jughead but he didn't take notice of it. He wasn't here to mess around or get laid. He was here to relax for a night and enjoy a tasteful show filled with beautiful women.

Jughead ignored the enamoured girl and turned back around in time to lock eyes with Cheryl. When it became clear that she finally registered who he was, she looked like she had seen a ghost.

Jughead watched her grip the counter top, her eyes flickering to the door beside the stage and back to him. She looked almost like she was terrified to see him in her club, although he couldn't imagine why. He hadn't seen her in years and even after the Serpents were transferred back the Riverdale High she kept a surprising distance from all of them, especially Jughead.

He was curious as to why she was so scared to see him but before he could get up to head over to talk to her, the house lights dimmed and the music started up. The velvet curtain slowly opened to reveal the back of a voluptuous blonde. Jughead stopped himself from standing and slowly sank back down into his seat.

The enchanting goddess appeared to be dressed in a sheer black robe as she sat sideways in a folding chair at the foot of the giant tub. The music flowed hauntingly through the dark club, all eyes focused on the woman on stage.

Got a black magic woman

Got a black magic woman

I've got a black magic woman

Through the sheer material of the robe you could see the woman on stage had a giant black and gray snake tattoo along her spine that fit a large portion of her back. Jughead's breath hitched as the woman stood, her golden curls falling to the center of her back, and began to move her hips slowly to the music. Each of her movements showing off her sexy curves.

Got me so blind I can't see

That she's a black magic woman

She's trying to make a devil out of me

The sway of her hips matched the rhythm of the song, hypnotizing everyone in the room. Jughead's heart stopped beating in that moment as he tried to understand what he was feeling. He hadn't felt this way about someone in so long, not since he saw 12 year old Betty Cooper in a bikini for the first time, and it confused him just as much now as it had the first time he'd felt them. Jughead always knew blondes were his type but is it possible to feel these strong emotions without seeing someone's face?

Don't turn your back on me, baby

Don't turn your back on me, baby

Yes, don't turn your back on me, baby

The woman slowly turned her profile to the crowd and begin removing the robe painfully slow to reveal that she was nude underneath save for black glitter pasties and a black lace panties. Jughead noticed she had several more tattoos along her side and on her upper arm that were now visible to the crowd. One in particular stood out to Jughead: a tiny crown beside her left breast just above her ribs.

The woman continued to sway to the music and from his seat Jughead was mesmerized by the tattoos on her body that seemed to dance to the music as well. Who is this beautiful temptress?

Stop messing about with your tricks

Don't turn your back on me, baby

You just might pick up my magic sticks

The beautiful seductress slowly made her way to the tub where she bent down with her backside to the crowd, causing the place to erupt in hoots and hollers from some men in the front row. Jughead's eyes snapped to them and he felt a surge of anger towards these men who were ogling his temptress on stage.

She slowly reached into the tub, removing a large black boa constrictor and placing it onto her shoulders before turning to fully face the crowd for the first time.

Jughead's world stopped and he honestly thought he had died when his eyes locked onto none other than Betty Cooper. The Betty Cooper who disappeared all those years ago, the Betty Cooper who he stole kisses with in the Blue and Gold and gave his virginity to after the town's jubilee, HIS Betty Cooper.

You got your spell on me, baby

You got your spell on me, baby

Yes, you got your spell on me, baby

"Jug, is that-?" Toni started, dumbfounded at what she was seeing on stag but Jughead was too shocked to hear her as he stood up to walk closer to the stage. He continued to be mesmerized by the woman on stage in front of him.

Sweet, innocent Betty Cooper who would blush when he would whisper his desires into her ear was on stage, naked, dancing around seductively with a large black snake like she was trying to tempt every soul in the room to do her bidding.

Turnin' my heart into stone

I need you so bad

Magic woman I can't leave you alone

Jughead gawked at what he was witnessing but snapped out of the spell she had placed him in. He needed to talk to her. Right. Now.

Before he could reach the stage however, the song ended and the curtain dropped. He watched Betty place the snake back into the tub and turn into a doorway, heading down the hall as the stage hands started moving things to the backstage area. Jughead followed them and grabbed the sleeve of one of their shirts to get his attention.

"Hey, that girl on stage, the one with the snake. Who is she?" Jughead asked, his eyes staring at the doorway to the hall that she just disappeared through.

"Oh, that's Juliet. Juliet Jones. She's the biggest act on the burlesque circuit right now. Everyone from New York to Las Vegas has been trying to book her but she refuses to work anywhere that she doesn't own. And before you ask, no, she doesn't do private shows and she won't take photos with you. She likes her privacy and has a strict no pictures policy," the man said before leaving to finish taking down the props for the night.

Jones? Juliet? Juliet Jones? No. It's impossible. All this time, she has been using his name to hide? Of course she would use his name if she wanted to disappear, Jughead thought, shaking his head.

As he thought about it more, he remembered how when they were together and talked about their future, Betty had always said she wanted a little girl named Juliet.


"Don't laugh Juggie, I think it's a perfectly acceptable name for a little girl," Betty scoffed at Jughead's chuckling, slapping his bare chest as she lay in his arms. They had started their physical relationship slow, saving the full experience until they both knew they were ready.

But after the disaster of his ruined sixteen birthday party was over, with confessions of their love and deepest fears from both of them, they decided they wanted to fully give themselves over to each other. Ever since that first time they became addicted, they just couldn't get enough of each other and would make love every chance they could.

Laying in his trailer, holding the girl he has loved since childhood, Jughead knew that this was the only future he wanted. It didn't matter if everyone thought they were too young, he didn't care. He had a plan for his future, and she was a part of it. Jughead pressed kisses to Betty's forehead, putting his free hand up in surrender, and laughed.

"Ok Betts, I'm sorry, I was teasing. I actually really like the name Juliet. It's only fitting that our daughter would be named after you, even if it's just your nickname. Besides Juliet Jones has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" Jughead smiled down at the beautiful blonde lying on his chest. He leaned up, rolling her onto her back so that he hovered over her and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers, grinning down at her.

"And, I think that if we are going to make sure she is our future we should probably get some more practice in. You know, just to keep us in shape for all those future baby making sessions," Jughead's eyebrows wiggled making Betty giggle.

"Oh is that so?" Betty sighed while Jughead hummed his agreement, lowering his head to kiss the column of her neck. Before long they were getting lost in their love again, breathing each other's names like a prayer as they both reached their high.


Why didn't he think of this before? Jughead never thought to look for her under the name he called their future child in secret, the one only the two of them would have possibly known. Jughead needed to find her right now. He had to talk to her face to face, find out why she never came home, if she was safe and sound, and if she even still cared about him in that way. Jughead was about to head through the doorway he had seen her disappear through when he heard a voice behind him.

"Well, well, well, look what the Black Cat dragged in..." Jughead instantly knew that voice and rolled his eyes before turning around. Cheryl stood there, arms crossed and tapping her foot, waiting to be acknowledged. Her face was cold but Jughead could tell she was afraid of him being here.

"Hello Cheryl, how've you been? Stolen any souls recently?" Jughead was not in the mood to deal with a Blossom right now. Especially not the redheaded she-devil standing before him. He just wanted to get backstage to talk to Betty.

"Only the ones that deserve it," Cheryl answered him with a sinister grin. "And why exactly are you here anyway, Sons of Anarchy? Don't you have a dark hole to slither into somewhere?"

"Unfortunately not at the moment. Actually Cheryl, my friends and I are here as paying customers. Imagine my shock when I see that not only is this place owned by you but also, Betty is dancing mostly naked on stage," Jughead watched her demeanor shift for just a moment before she steadied herself and remained silent. Jughead wanted answers, and by damned, Cheryl was gonna give them to him.

"What I really want to know is, what the hell is Betty doing here in the first place? Please tell me it's not true. Tell me you haven't known where she was this whole time and didn't bother to tell any of the people who love her? Dammit, I knew you were a bitch Cheryl, but I didn't think you were this cruel," Jughead was trying his best to remain calm but he was losing the battle.

All he needed was to see her, he needed to make things right but his anger towards Cheryl was winning out and he didn't know if he could control it much longer. Jughead was about to start another tirade when he heard the voice that has haunted his dreams for the last five years, speak.

"It's my fault, Jug. I asked her not to tell anyone," Jughead turned to see Betty Cooper, in the flesh, standing in front of him after all this time.

She kept her arms hugged around body like it was the only way to hold herself together. Even after all these years, she still took his breath away. He stepped towards her slowly and gave her a tentative smile.

"Hey there Juliet. Nurse off duty?"


Betty dropped her hairbrush and froze when she heard it. That voice. His voice. She told herself she was imagining things when she had heard it asking someone who she was from backstage. She had to be imagining things because there was no way he was here, not after all this time. It had been five years.

Betty had tried to make herself easy enough for him to find with the name she chose, but she never heard from him so she thought he didn't want to find her. So why would he be here now?

Betty stepped out of her dressing room and walked down the hall just in time to hear his bickering with Cheryl. She knew she would have to talk to him and somehow tell him everything. She shook off her fear, held her head high, and marched to the doorway. There was no going back now.

"It's my fault, Jug. I asked her not to tell anyone," Betty felt like she was going to crumble at any moment and she didn't want to fall apart in front of him again, not after the last time. Not when she had so much to tell him. She had to get this over with before she got lost in her emotions.

When Jughead turned and his eyes finally met hers, she thought she could have died right there. He was just how she remembered, he stepped towards her and his eyes sparkled, a small smile forming on his face.

"Hey there Juliet. Nurse off duty?" He whispered, taking her breath away.

She couldn't help but smile at the memory of the first time she heard him utter those words to her. Even though it had been a horribly emotional day, it had also been one of the best days of her life. The day that started their love.

"Hey Juggie, long time no see," Betty looked down and shuffled on her feet awkwardly. She could feel her heart fluttering a mile a minute in her chest just being this close to him. She could see he had filled out some since the last time she saw him but other than that he looked almost exactly the same.

She could feel the anxiety start to eat away at her knowing the Pandora's Box that was sure to erupt and she was terrified of what damage it may cause. But she also knew there was no other option anymore. "You look good Jug."

"I can say the same about you Betts. You look... breathtaking," Jughead paused not sure if it was a good time to do this or not but he needed to know why she disappeared the way that she did.

"Is there somewhere we could go to, I don't know, talk? Maybe catch up a bit, it's been a long time," he looked at her with so much hope that she couldn't possibly say no to him. Betty gripped her robe tighter to her body and nodded her head, beckoning him to follow her back to her dressing room.

"Yeah, uh, follow me. My dressing room is right through here," Betty pointed before noticing the concern written on Cheryl's face. "Could you give us a bit Cher? I'll get changed and come help out front when we're done talking. Don't worry, it will be fine." Cheryl nodded and headed back out front to help Sabrina.

Betty's anxiety only increased as she walked Jughead down the hall in silence headed towards her dressing room. She wasn't sure where she should start once they got there but she knew he deserved to know he had a son. Betty sighed nervously, closing the door behind them. She walked across the room to sit at her vanity, looking at him in the mirror before she spoke again.

"So. How did you find me anyway, Jughead?" She figured she would start with the most obvious question that she had. Betty wasn't even entirely sure if he had been looking for her, given how long it had been since she had last seen him, but part of her hoped he had been looking for her this whole time.

Betty melted when she saw him smirk and start to scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. She could tell he was just as scared as she was about having this conversation. Jughead stepped closer to her, resting his hands on Betty's shoulders and lightly rubbing them with his thumbs.

"Honestly Betts? I have been searching for you but finding you was all by coincidence, if you can believe it," Betty raised an eyebrow in disbelief and Jughead chuckled. "No seriously. Kevin, his husband, and I have spent every night for the last three years searching for the slightest trace of you with no luck. And here, I just stumble across you completely by accident. All because Toni and Sweet Pea dragged me away from our investigation for the night."

Betty wasn't sure what to make of all this. After all the years she has spent running: first from her pain of losing Jughead, then from the Cooper name when her sister left her twins with their mother and disappeared with a cult, and then hiding her child from everyone in her past only to never be found. She didn't think that anyone was actually searching for her honestly. Hell, she could hardly believe it now, even with Jughead standing right here behind her.

She never thought she would see anyone one from her old life ever again, let alone be sitting half naked in a room with the man she had loved since she was 16. She pulled a makeup wipe out of the pack with a shaky hand and started to remove her eyeliner. She tried her best to mask her feelings and not show the fear in her voice as she spoke to him.

"So, you've really been looking for me all this time Jug? Really? I mean, not to sound rude, but why? You made it perfectly clear that night that you didn't want me anymore so why even bother looking for me when I just gave you what you wanted?" Betty said sharply, making Jughead wince at her tone. He knew that she was probably still hurt over how things went down that night but wouldn't let it deter him. He needed her to know that he still loved her and how much he regretted the way things ended.

"Because Betty, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I pushed you away like that. I was an idiot and pushed away the only woman I could ever love over a stupid dance and my own ridiculous notion that to protect you, I had to give you up. I have regretted it everyday of my life since you left. Also," he paused and pulled out his wallet, "I got your letter." Jughead pulled out the letter, unfolding it and handing it to her.

She chuckled lightly as tears sprang to her eyes, the sight of him carrying her goodbye note around making butterflies erupt in her belly. Of course he got my letter, she thought. She knew Alice wouldn't keep it from him for long, even if it was just to torture him like she knew Alice would.

Betty purposely left the letter out in the open for Alice to find to make sure it got to Jug one way or another. Jughead eyes locked on hers in the mirror as he ran his hands up the sides of her neck and into her hair, caressing hesitantly.

Betty leaned into his touched and moaned lightly, her eyes fluttering closed at the sensation before opening them again to meet his gaze. She stood slowly, eyes darkening with lust and turned to face him. Jughead couldn't hold his feelings back anymore and before he knew it, he had her pressed up against her vanity.

"Please Betty," he whispered against her ear, his breath giving her goosebumps. He ran his nose along her neck, breathing in her scent.

"God Betts, I've missed you so damn much. I'm so fucking sorry. I screwed up so bad baby and I hate myself for how I hurt you. I'll do whatever pennants I have to in order to make this up to you but please. Please forgive me for what I did to us. Give me another chance, please?" Jughead pleaded while caressing her body. He was so desperate for her he didn't even care about the tears that were burning his eyes. He needed her in the worst way and he couldn't bring himself to step away.

The emotions were so thick in the air that it made it hard for Betty to breathe but she knew what she wanted to do. Without warning, she surged forward and attacked his lips with her own. She felt Jughead's moan against her mouth when she ran her fingers into his hair, pulling lightly. The sounds he was making only spurred her emotions more, making up her mind on what she wanted.

Jughead ran his tongue along her lips, begging for permission to deepen the kiss, which she granted him willingly. It was a frenzied mess of teeth and tongues but Betty didn't care, to her this moment was perfect. She could feel her desire burning in her core and all she could think about was being taken by him. She had been with a few men over the years, but no one who could compare to Jughead and the things he did to her body. He made her feel things that Betty didn't know were even possible and she longed to feel them again.

Jughead couldn't stop himself from touching her everywhere she would let him, her silk robe making his fingers glide across her skin gently. It had been so long since he touched her last and he was desperate to have her. She had always been the only thing that mattered to him and he needed her to survive.

Jughead kissed and bit her neck tenderly, sucking on her racing pulse point when he found it. He could already smell her arousal, grunting as he felt himself become painfully hard against the zipper of his jeans. He grabbed her behind her knees and pulled her to the edge of the table to press himself against her, eliciting small gasps from Betty. He clung to her desperately, like an anaconda with its prey, he grasped her tighter not wanting this moment to end for fear that it was just some cruel dream conjured up by his subconscious.

Jughead slowly untied her robe, running his hands inside to squeeze her breasts before letting the robe pool around her waist. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, the ink on her body just exciting him even more. His sweet Northside princess had turned into a sexy tattooed goddess. Jughead brought his fingers up to remove the pasties that were covering her nipples before taking one into his mouth as he pinched and twisted the other. Betty squirmed under his touch, her desire soaking through the thin lace of her panties.

"Ju-juggie, please," She hummed, digging her nails into his scalp while he flicked his tongue against her puckered nipple and sucked it between his teeth. "Please, I need...I need...Fuck Juggie!" She couldn't even finish her sentence as she felt his fingers snake along her belly and into her panties.

Jughead could feel her swollen nub pulsing against his fingertips as he slowly rubbed circles, putting the slightest amount of pressure on it. Betty couldn't stop the cries of pleasure that were leaving her body or keep her legs from trembling when Jughead slowly ran his fingers along her slick folds and into her waiting heat.

"Shit Betts, you're so fucking wet. God, you feel so damn good. I bet you taste just as fucking good too," Jughead said, bringing his fingers to his lips to suck her juices off them. That was her undoing, she had to have him right now. Betty pushed him back slightly and made quick work of pulling off Jughead's tee shirt. Before it even hit the floor she pulled him into another frenzied kiss, frantically trying and failing to undo his belt causing him to chuckle against her lips. Jughead reached down to help her undo his belt and pop the button on his jeans but Betty shooed his hands away. Once she had him free of his restraints, she reached her hand into his boxers to massage his hardness.

"Fuck Betts!" Jughead moaned against her neck, clenching his teeth to keep from spilling right there. It has been almost 3 years since he had been with anyone and he wasn't sure how long he would last at this rate. Betty continued to stroke him, squeezing gently and running her thumb over the tip until neither of them could take it anymore. She pulled her hand back to let Jughead push her panties to the side and pulled himself flush to her core.

"I need you Juggie, please," she purred, biting his earlobe. Jughead was already too far gone to think of anything else as he thrust himself deep into her.

He could tell it had been awhile for Betty too, given how tight her walls were clenched around him. He went still for a moment to let her adjust, until he felt her hips rocking forward to seek some sort of friction. That was all the permission Jughead needed and he started thrusting into her at a punishing pace. It was sinful and fast, theirs bodies sliding against one another as they muffled each other's moans with a kiss.

"Betts, oh God, I've missed you so bad," Jughead panted against Betty's skin before he marked her, drawing a dark bruise onto her neck. Her whimpering only encouraged him to go harder inside her. He wanted her to feel everything he was feeling in this moment, all his desperation and need.

Betty could feel tears rising to the surface at his words but she refused to let them spill over. Not when she finally has him back after all these years. This was all she had dreamed about since the last night they were together.

"Betty-I'm getting close. Do I need to-?" Jughead panted but Betty shook her head. "I need to feel you Juggie, all of you." Betty wrapped her legs tighter around him as she felt herself reaching her peak, biting his shoulder to stifle her screams of pleasure so no one would hear what they were doing.

She knew he wouldn't last much longer as she felt herself spasm around him, the last of her orgasm making her whole body shake. The sensations were too much for Jughead to take and his pleasure followed soon after hers, spilling himself deep inside her with a grunt. Their breathing was labored from the intensity of the moment but Betty could feel Jughead's tears on her skin as he clung to her.

"Please don't disappear on me again Betts, please. I love you so fucking much. I could never love anyone like I love you. Just, please don't go, don't leave me again," Jughead whimpered as his hugged her tightly to his chest, still buried inside her.

Betty felt her heart constrict at his words, she could feel the familiar pain in them. She knew how much it hurt him when his mother left, so she held him close, hoping to ease his fears.

"Shhh...I'm here Juggie...I'm here, I won't leave you behind. Never again, I promise," she cooed, her voice a soothing balm to his pain. Jughead let out an uneven breath before he opened his eyes to see his reflection. He was about to pull away when something caught his eye.

Scattered all along the top of her mirror were an array of pictures of Betty with a raven-haired child at various ages. One of her in a hospital bed, ponytail askew and sweaty, eyes beaming as she looked down at the little bundle in her arms. Beside her in the photo was Cheryl Blossom looking overjoyed at the sight before her. The next photo was of a blue-eyed baby boy with a head of black curls sitting in a high chair and blowing spit bubbles, animal crackers strown on the tray table.

There were several more happy pictures of Betty and the little boy, bringing a harsh realization to Jughead in that moment: Betty Cooper is a mother. Betty Cooper had a baby after she left him. A baby she probably had with someone else who wasn't him. That was when the 'what ifs' hit him like a freight train.

What if she is married to someone else? Or in a relationship with someone else? And if she was with someone else, how could he just walked in here and take her like she was still his.

Anxious and feeling sickened with himself for not even thinking that she may have moved on, he pulled away from her like he had been burned.

"Jesus, what the fuck did I do?" Jughead choked out. He grabbed a tissue box off the table to clean himself up and fix his pants before passing the box to her. He couldn't even look her in the eyes, pacing back and forth, trying to understand what he had done.

"Juggie?" Betty's voice came out in a strangled cry. She has seen him like this before in the past and she knew he was internalizing something. "What's wrong Jug? Are you alright?" She asked, her eyes begging him not to push her away again. Jughead paused his steps and stared at her in disbelief.

"What's wrong? Christ, Betty. What's wrong is I just fucked you half to death in your dressing room without any regard to whether or not you've moved on from us,1" Betty scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. She wasn't sure what could have given him the idea that she was taken by someone else but maybe it was his anxiety messing with his head.

"Jug, are you worried that I'm with someone else? Because if that's the case, don't. I haven't been in a real relationship since you. And I haven't been in a physical one of any sort in a few years," Jughead blew out a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging at the knowledge that he hadn't just made an attempt at being a homewrecker.

But he still didn't know how he should feel about Betty having a child with someone else. The very thought twisted his stomach in knots and made his heart ache.

They'd talked so many times about getting married after college and having kids that, he just thought, if Betty had a baby one day it would be his. He knew deep down it shouldn't bother him, that he would have to get past it if he wanted to be with her again.

He didn't want his insecurities to shatter them apart again over something that happened after they broke up. He decided he would get to know the child and maybe someday be the best stepdad he could be, if Betty and the father were ok with it.

"So you aren't with anyone?" He stepped back in between her knees, running his fingers along the sides of her still naked waist. Betty palmed the sides of Jughead's face and kissed him softly wanting nothing more than to have him all over again. Jughead sighed against her lips, wrapping her back into his arms. She broke the kiss first, breathing heavy at the lust she felt lighting her on fire again.

"No Juggie, I'm free and single and I'd love to give us another shot. I don't want to lose you again. I've missed you so much," Betty said, grinning at him before pulling him back in for another kiss, this one filled with need. Jughead pulled away, resting his forehead on hers and caressing her cheeks. Jughead felt like now was probably the best time to broach the elephant in the room so he swallowed hard and pulled back to look into her eyes.

"So. Who's this little guy, Betts?" Jughead asked nonchalantly, gesturing to the photos behind her. He felt Betty's body stiffen under his touch and her breathing become erratic. Jughead pulled back, noticing that her eyes had gone wide and she was clutching her fists together tightly. He knew that look: Betty Cooper was scared.

"Oh. That's, um, he's- well. That's my son, JJ." Betty said, her voice noticeably quivering. Jughead could tell she was leaving something out from the look on her face but he didn't know what exactly. He narrowed his eyes trying to read her expressions like he used to.

"JJ? Nickname I presume?" Jughead asked. Betty nodded her head slowly, her eyes never leaving his. He still couldn't understand what she was so afraid of. Maybe she was scared of how he would react to her having someone else's kid? Jughead watched her slowly lift up to put her robe back on before sitting down again and reaching out to pull him back between her legs.

"So what does it stand for?" He asked.

"Um, his first name is James but I refused to let him be called Jimmy. It was Cheryl who decided to start calling him JJ, so it just stuck," Betty chuckled before continuing.

"Actually I named him after his father and also one of my favorite actors," Betty said softly, a blush creeping up her neck and flaring up her cheeks.

"Oh. James Dean?" Jughead chuckled, thinking about how many times they watched Rebel Without A Cause together when they were younger. "I like it Betts. James is a great name. So, can I assume his Dad is named James, too? Are you guys still on good terms- I mean, will he have an issue with me being around his kid?" Jughead cleared his throat nervously, trying to step away from her but Betty only shook her head and clung tighter to him.

"No, um, his middle name is for his Dad," She held her breath hoping that he would start to put the pieces together on his own without her saying it outright. Jughead looked over her shoulder at what had to be a recent photo, given the length of Betty's hair, and the gears began to turn.

Betty was sitting on the floor with JJ on her lap, gift wrapping and toys strewn all around them. She and the boy were grinning at the camera, both of them holding up four fingers. Jughead's eyes widened as all the clues started to fall into place. He slowly looked into her glistening green eyes and tried to swallow the knot that was forming in his throat.

"Betty... How old is your son?" He whispered. His hands were shaking as he felt himself start to panic. It can't be true, right? Surely she wouldn't have hidden something like this from him all this time. He has to be reading into it too much.

"J just turned four at the beginning of October. Same week as his Daddy's birthday," She said quietly, not wanting to spook him more than he already was. Jughead could feel his stomach doing somersaults just looking at the little boy's features.

He looks just like-, he thought to himself before asking her his final question.

"What's his name, Betty?" Jughead reached his trembling hand forward and pulled the photo from the mirror. Betty swallowed hard and cleared her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly and started again.

"James Pendleton Jones."