Author's note:

Hello! It's been a hot minute on this one. I'm sorry. I never had the intention of abandoning this – I promise. Personal stuff just happened during the timeframe of me really writing this story out daily and it messed with my mental health. However, I'm back to finish this one because Riverdale is a dumpster fire and I need my fluff universe. Enjoy! Would love to hear back from any of you guys who are still reading it. And my ask is always on, on tumblr. Feel free to come chat! Xx

Jughead walked with Betty to the subway station, holding her hand in his own as he helped weave them throughout the crowd. He kept himself on the outside should something happen and she didn't see it. Ever since they not only reconnected but he had come to learn she lost her hearing, Jughead was protective of her in ways he never dreamed possible. He was always protective of her when they were dating but five years apart had caused some of that protection to simmer. Only to reignite when crossing paths with her once more. Just then, Betty tapped his pulse point gently with her free hand and he looked at her in time to spot a grin stretching across her face.

"Sun's close to setting. Was wondering if you wanted to watch it and then maybe come back to the apartment? It's Sweet Pea's night to cook and he actually cooks really well," Betty signed, fingers moving in tandem with her speech as she spoke quickly. Jughead nodded and started signing back, still going at a somewhat slower pace than her but feeling more and more confident each day with his sign language.

"Okay, baby," he replied, before gently kissing her and then clasping her fingers once more and leading her down the street again. He was going to take her to see the sunset at the same park he had taken her to on their first date in the city. She must have understood where they were going because her eyes lit up and Jughead felt exponentially proud to know that he was the one able to cause that type of happiness in her.

They made their way to the park and soon enough, they were settling down onto the same bank of grass they had been on a couple of weekends prior – Betty settling herself in-between Jughead's legs comfortably before he wrapped his arms around her and held her loosely, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple before resting his cheek against hers'. When he felt her cheek lift up against his in a smile, he smiled too.

XXX

After they had watched the sunset, they rode the subway back to her apartment, with Jughead's hand pressed to the small of Betty's back as they walked up and into the building. Inside the elevator, Jughead placed both of his hands on either side of her face, gently scooting her back until her back hit the wall, before kissing her soundly as they rode the elevator to the second floor. When it dinged and the door started sliding open, Jughead pulled back, kissing her forehead once before they walked off and went to her and her roommates' apartment.

Betty unlocked the door and walked in, holding it open for Jughead after her. Once they were both inside, Sweet Pea rounded the corner with Claire behind him and he went to go give Betty a hug. Nodding at Jughead with a smile, he began speaking.

"Making your and Claire's favorite," he signed, making sure to speak out loud so Jughead could understand as well. Betty grinned.

"Homemade pizza? We haven't had that in ages. Did you get -," Betty started to ask but Claire cut her off with her own grin.

"Cesar salad? Of course," she signed before going to hug her and then smiling at Jughead next. "Glad you're joining us. I hear you're quite the food consumer. Sweet Pea makes the best pies in the state."

"I didn't know you liked to cook, Sweet Pea," Jughead said, all of them walking into the kitchen area and sitting around while Sweet Pea headed back to his pizzas. After checking them in the oven, he turned back around and began signing and talking once more.

"Had shit for food growing up and I always told myself when I had the money, I'd learn how to cook as long as it meant I never saw a can of spaghetti-o's again," he replied with a shrug. Jughead laughed.

"Yeah, understand you there completely, man," he signed back and caught Claire nodding at him approvingly.

"You've been practicing," she signed, tone pleased.

Jughead caught Betty's eyes and grinned, ducking his head the next moment and he grinned again when she laughed. "I've been using that software you told me to download a bit, yeah." He shrugged a shoulder casually. He made sure his signs were right as he signed them, looking at his fingers then to Betty, who nodded with that same smile plastered to her lips. Sweet Pea laughed.

"Good for you, man," he complimented. "It's pretty cool that you just willingly picked up a new language."

"So did you," Jughead countered and Sweet Pea nodded his agreement before signing that dinner was ready – without speaking the words out loud. Jughead was proud that he read what he was saying accurately and began to help bring the dishes to the table with everyone else. After everyone had their helpings of pizza and salad, Betty started speaking, fingers twisting elegantly around the letters she was signing out.

"The three of us have a tradition at dinnertime," she began. "We all go around and say one thing we're thankful for. You don't have to say anything Juggie, not if you don't want to, but we will say what we're grateful for, all right?" She looked at him expectantly and he grinned, nodding his understanding, before she spoke up once more. "I'm grateful that Archie and Ronnie understood the errors of their ways and we are trying to rebuild our friendships."

Sweet Pea went next, saying he was grateful for the fact that he finally got that promotion at his job. Then Claire – Betty, Sweet Pea, and getting to know Jughead – somehow, she made it all into one big thing she was grateful for so she wasn't breaking the rules. Then, Jughead was next if he so chose to go. He did. He began signing out what he was grateful for.

"I'm grateful for my Nancy Drew back in my life," he said, causing Betty blush and smile softly. "I don't know how I did five years without you, my love."

"I love you, Juggie," she signed, then they ate, leaving Jughead filled with contentment that he was once more growing used to being a regular occurrence now that he was back in Betty's life. How the fuck had he gone five years without her? No clue. He'd make sure to never do that again, that was for damn sure.

Author's note: Enjoy the fluff finally continuing! Xxx