Jughead, Sweet Pea, and Archie had congregated into Betty's kitchen to give the two women time to grieve together without the other guys hovering. However, Jughead and Archie kept a dutiful eye on Betty's living room so they could both be aware enough to know if their presences was needed or required. Looking at Archie and Sweet Pea, Jughead made the introductions after remembering the two hadn't formally met. Archie shook hands with the taller before turning to look at Jughead.

"What all do we know, man?" Archie asked and Jughead understood that Archie understood Betty had opened up to him enough. More than she had with Archie and Jughead had to give the redhead credit; he didn't seem mad in the slightest. Running a hand through his unruly hair, Jughead began speaking.

"Well, apparently this sick fuck has been watching her for a few weeks now. Has been sending her pictures of herself in her apartment," Jughead sighed, running a hand down his face.

"Pictures?" Archie asked, voice holding an edge as sharp as a knife.

"Yeah. In fact, the text that she got the night the three of us were at the diner? It was a text sent from the stalker, whoever the fuck he is, and it was a picture of her bare back after she got out of the shower," Jughead said quietly, keeping an eye on the living room still. He wasn't a hundred percent sure how Betty would feel about him sharing that with Archie and Sweet Pea, but she had said he could tell them both all that he knew – all that she had told him as of now.

"What?" Archie hissed; voice low as well. And, deadly.

"Yeah," Jughead ground out, tone one of disgust. "This sick fuck was ballsy then. Now he's a murderer."

"Do the cops know that Betty has a stalker?" Archie demanded, looking at Jughead but he wasn't the one who answered.

"No, Arch, they don't," Betty's voice came through her kitchenette quietly and all three of them turned to face her. She still had the blanket Jughead had draped over her shoulders wrapped around her and her eyes were red-rimmed and blotchy; it tore at his heartstrings. She moved her way to her cupboard and pulled out the tea she had offered him the first night and turned on the kettle to boil. Turning back to the other three, she spoke once more. "I don't know how much I should tell them. I mean, I feel as if I should say Valerie was killed because of me but -,"

"But, we don't know that, Betts," Jughead interrupted gently, going to place his hand over hers'. "At least, not well enough to make the claim." Jughead made sure to keep his voice soft and gentle so he didn't come across as telling her what he thought she should be doing. That was the last thing she needed and the last thing he wanted.

Betty sighed, rolling her shoulders back and Jughead knew she was trying to alleviate some of the tension she most definitely had been feeling since this nightmare started and had only been exacerbated upon finding out about Valerie's death. "Come on Juggie, it is not a coincident that Valerie's bloody scarf ended up in my room. The only person who would have a motive for putting the scarf in my room is whoever the fuck this guy is."

Her voice wasn't sharp or angry; she just sounded so very, explicably tired.

"Darlin'," Sweet Pea piped up. "We know that it is your stalker who put the scarf there, that we do know. You're right. But, Jug is right as well. We don't know if he killed Valerie because of the obsession with you. He could have easily had one with her as well and seeing that the killer knew her personally, it could have been someone she thought was a friend. Truth of the matter is this: your friend is dead, tragically yes, but we have no solid proof, no concrete evidence that the stalker killed her to send a message to you or if the guy knew her and they had an altercation."

"Then why put the scarf in my room?" Betty asked, voice anxious as she chewed on her lip. "If the killing really held no connection to me?"

"To get inside of your head, Betty," Veronica said, walking into the kitchen as well. "That's the connection, honey."

They all fell silent as they mulled Veronica's words over, the Latina woman helping herself to the tea bags Betty had silently slid towards her in an offering. Finally, it was Sweet Pea who broke the silence that had descended upon them.

"I hate to ask this Betty, I really do, but are there any mutual enemies between you and Valerie?" Sweet Pea asked, tone inquisitive but gentle so Jughead knew he wasn't holding an ounce of accusation behind his words.

Betty rubbed her temple as she contemplated his question before replying. "For Valerie? Definitely not. Everyone loved her. Anyone who crossed paths with her enjoyed her company immensely because she was just so pleasant to be around. As for me? I don't know. Maybe? I mean, my dad was a killer. Some one could have followed me to the city. I just don't know."

Archie shook his head. "I don't think that's the case here, Betty. I mean, based off the picture you received and the bloody scarf…this seems as if it's more so a personal connection coated in the idea of this guy's love? Or, well, what he believes to be love."

When Betty didn't question Jughead for mentioning the picture without her in the room, he knew she wasn't upset. She simply chewed on her lip a bit more, contemplating Archie's words now before her shoulders dropped. "Well, whatever his fucking game is here – whatever his fucking agenda is, we need to get on top of it before he can bring harm to anyone else. I will not have anyone die because of me. I can agree to him potentially having a personal connection with Valerie outside of myself and using that connection to get inside of my head is the connection between us but I won't let anyone get hurt because of me. I already feel awful about Valerie."

"It's not your fault, B," Veronica spoke up. "Not at all. You can't take the responsibility for this asshole's actions. Even if he did end up killing Valerie because of you. For whatever sick, twisted reason he thought justified something like that – that is still on him. Not you, all right?"

Betty hesitantly nodded and Jughead knew how much that was costing her. How much that agreement meant to her. Betty, by nature, had always taken the blame. Whether fairly or unfairly. It was just who she was to her core. And, Jughead respected that but he wasn't going to let her sink on her own. Not when he had the life preserver he would willingly throw to her over and over again if she asked. All she had to do was ask.

They eventually went their separate ways after Archie triple-checked Betty was okay without him staying at her apartment as well. After she assured him again that she'd be fine, he offered Veronica a ride back to her apartment and the two left, the shorter leaning into Archie's side as he helped her grief-stricken body walk out of the apartment. That left Betty, Jughead, and Sweet Pea in Betty's apartment. Shutting the door, Betty checked the lock twice before turning around and making her way towards her windows in the main room, checking them one-by-one. Eventually she looked at Sweet Pea and Jughead.

"Sweet Pea?" Betty asked quietly.

"Yeah, darlin'?" Sweet Pea replied.

"You all right out in the living room on your own? If Juggie is all right with it, I'd really feel comfortable if he slept on my floor in my bedroom. It's nothing against you – I just – I need…," she trailed off, huffing out a breath in frustration and Jughead gently placed his hands on her shoulders, massaging them softly.

"Hon?" Jughead asked, waiting until Betty looked up at him. "Sweet Pea doesn't care and neither do I. We understand you need to feel safe right now. I'm more than happy to take your floor for as long as you need, okay?"

Betty closed her eyes and nodded, body finally relaxing as she melted into the hug Jughead brought her into.

"I swear to God, honey, we're going to catch this guy," Jughead promised quietly.

He'd see that promise through.