Here is chapter 2! I hope you enjoy it!
I don't Riverdale or these characters.
*4 Years Later*
Betty walked into Pop's and smiled, the smell of grease welcoming her home. She couldn't believe she was back in Riverdale. Forest wiggled in her arms.
"Mommy, mikshay," he said.
"Okay," she smiled kissing his head.
"Betty Cooper," Pop Tate smiled coming out from behind the bar, "how are you?"
"I'm good, Pop," Betty said, "this is Forest," she added noticing Pop's eyes growing wide.
"He looks like his old man."
Betty smiled, "yes he does."
"Sit anywhere, I'll be right with ya."
"Thanks Pop."
Betty walked towards a familiar booth and felt her heart get heavy. She missed her friends. Archie and Veronica had gotten married. Archie was the new football coach at Riverdale High. Veronica was Principal. And Jughead.
Shaking her head, she set Forest down, not realizing that someone watching her and ever so confused.
Jughead stood outside Pop's and stared into green eyes that mirrored his own. Small hands were clutching the neck of the woman he had never stopped loving, Betty Cooper.
The little boy waved at him and grinned. Jughead was confused, very confused. Waving back at the boy, he followed her in. Betty was in her own world, she didn't notice.
"Pop?" he asked looking Betty's blonde hair.
"I would guess he's yours son," Pop said, "looks just like you."
Forest was bouncing on the seat, "Forest please be careful," Betty said putting a hand on his behind.
"Can I join you?" a voice asked; causing Betty to jump and Forest to sit down.
"Jug," Betty whispered as Forest crawled into her lap.
The two stared at each other; no one else mattering.
Feeling the tears, Betty nodded, "of course."
He sat down and stared at the little boy, "why?"
Squeezing her eyes shut and taking a deep breath, "I was scared."
"Of what?" he asked quietly.
Forest looked at his mom and stood on the seat again. Placing his little hands on her face, he leaned over and gave her sloppy kisses.
Betty smiled and pulled him into her lap, "that you wouldn't want us."
Balling his fist, Jughead fought pounding them on the table, "you should have told me."
"I know."
"Does he know?" Jughead asked softly.
Betty nodded, "yes, I have shown him pictures of you," she explained, "he loves your one 'Darling Duo' comic book."
"You read it to him?"
"Of course, Jug," she said looking at him, finally, "I'm so proud of you," she whispered.
Laying his arm across the table, Jughead looked at Betty. He had never stopped loving her. Seeing her now, was something he could have only ever dreamed of.
Betty laid her hand in Jughead's and squeezed it. He was her first and only love. The little boy sitting on her lap was proof positive of that.
"What's his name?" Jughead asked clearing his throat.
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the IV," Betty whispered as tears started, "Forest for short."
"Mommy, don't cry," Forest said as Pop dropped off three plates of food.
Walking away the older man smiled. He had been heartbroken, like the rest of the town when Betty and Jughead had broken up after high school. They were supposed to be stronger than their parents.
"We have mikshay," he grinned reaching for the frosted cup.
"Careful," Jughead spoke, gently pushing it towards Forest.
Forest grinned at him and stood up to drink his milkshake. Vanilla just like dad.
"You gave him my name," he said amazed.
Betty nodded.
"Is he why you didn't come home while we were in college?"
Nodding again, Betty wiped her eyes.
"Betty," Jughead whispered.
Looking up Betty saw the tears in Jughead's eyes, "I'm so sorry," she whispered, "I was scared and ashamed."
"Of what?" he asked wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
Betty couldn't help but smile, some habits never change, "I had become a self-fulling prophecy," she started, "I couldn't face my mom and have her say 'I told you so'."
Jughead laughed, he could see Alice Cooper saying just that, "that doesn't explain why I'm just now seeing and meeting my son."
Licking her lips, Betty took a deep breath, "I was heartbroken Jug," she admitted, "we were broken up and living in different parts of the country," she continued, "and we had agreed to have no contact, so that in case…." She stopped.
Running his hands through his hair, Jughead looked at Betty, he knew what she couldn't say. In case they moved on.
Forest looked at his mom and wobbled his head from side to side. He didn't know what the two adults were talking about, but he recognized the man sitting on the other side of the booth.
Sliding down one side, he climbed up on the other and stepped closer to Jughead.
Jughead turned and looked at his son, "Daddy?" Forest asked touching his hair.
A single tear slid down Jughead's cheek, "yeah, buddy," he whispered opening his arms.
Betty let the tears stream down her face. She had never lied to Forest about his dad. Every chance she got, she was telling him about him and showing his pictures.
Alice stood outside and leaned hard against FP, who wasn't holding it together any better. Both parents had tears streaming down their faces. Their kids were finally in the same place at the same time. And Forest, was finally meeting his dad.
"I look like you," Forest agreed shaking his head.
"Yes, you do," Jughead said as Forest settled down beside him and reached for a fry.
"In more ways than one," Betty commented as the two most important men in her life began to eat their food.
Hearing the bell above the door jingle, Betty turned and saw her mom and FP step inside. Jughead raised his head and smiled.
Walking towards the booth, Alice and FP wiped their faces of the remaining tears. It was about time, "Grandma, Grandpa," Forest said excitedly, "my daddy," he squealed looking up at Jughead.
FP coughed back more tears as Jughead picked up Forest and held him in his lap, "yeah bud, that's your old man."
Alice took the spot next to Betty and kissed her on the head, "I'm glad your home," she whispered.
"Me too, mom, me too," Betty said, looking at Jughead, not able to hide her smile.
The Coopers and Jones's enjoyed their meal together as a family. For the first time in years, no one felt like something was missing.
Forest was getting tired. And tired meant fussy. He didn't want to be sitting the booth anymore. He didn't want to go to sleep. He wanted down. He wanted to play.
"Let's head home," FP suggested watching Forest, "maybe he'll fall asleep on the way."
Betty nodded, "he does like to be outside."
Alice slid out of the booth and waited for FP. Jughead held Forest's hands as he slid out of the booth and walked to Betty, who held her hand out, "I'm not tired," Forest argued fighting back a yawn.
"Okay," Betty grinned.
Walking to pay Pop, he just waved them out, "on the house," he said smiling ear to ear.
Scooping up Forest, Jughead walked down the steps. He couldn't stop staring at his son. His mini me.
"If you roll him sideways and into your chest he'll go to sleep," Betty said coming to stand beside him.
Jughead did as she instructed and watched as Forest's eyes fought harder to stay open, "now hum."
Looking at her, "I'm serious."
"Anything in particular?"
"No, just a tune."
Humming softly, Jughead watched his son fall asleep in his arms. Betty wiped her eyes and ran a hand through Forest's inky hair. He was truly his dad's mini me.
Taking a steadying breath, Betty cautiously wrapped an arm around Jughead's middle and leaned her head on his arm. Jughead kissed her softly on the head and took a sigh of relief when he felt the tension in her arm and body leave.
FP hugged Alice closer as they watched their kids with their son, "I told you they would find each other again," she teased.
Laughing, "yes you did."
"Did you just agree with me?" Alice stopped and asked.
"Sometimes it's just easier," FP teased.
Smacking his arm, Alice couldn't help but grin.
The walk home was short and quiet. Betty in her head; worrying about how all of this would affect Forest and what this meant for her and Jughead. Jughead kept looking down; he couldn't believe he had a son; who was 3. Looking at the woman beside him; he saw the nerves on her face.
"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered.
Betty looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "…"
Laying her head back against his arm, "I never stopped loving you, Jughead," she whispered.
Gulping, "I couldn't stop loving you if I tried, Betty Cooper."
Walking into her old home, Betty took a deep breath, "Forest's room is Polly's old room," she said.
"Come with me," Jughead said, "I don't want to mess anything up."
Nodding, Betty followed Jughead upstairs. Walking into Polly's old room that had been turned into Jellybean's old room and now Forest's room.
Seeing the small daybed, Jughead smiled and slowly laid his son down, "gently roll him over and I'll tuck his pillow under his head," Betty explained moving to the head of the bed.
Following her lead, Jughead took Forest's shoes off as Betty removed his coat.
"Thank you," she said turning on the monitor.
"For what?" he asked gently bringing the door behind him.
Betty shook her head and wrung her hands, "for…" she gulped, "for under…" she shook her head, "for understanding."
Jughead took her hands and led her to the room that used to be theirs. Sitting on the bed, he brought her down on his lap, "I don't, Betty," he said quietly, "I don't understand why you didn't tell me we had a son," he continued as she fidgeted, "I don't know why you felt you couldn't tell me."
Wiping her eyes, "I don't have a reason; besides, I was scared," she started covering her mouth, "I just… We had become…"
"Betty, we're not our parents," he said cupping her cheeks.
Having to look him in the eyes, "I didn't mean to keep him from you," she whispered.
Wiping away the tears running from her eyes, Jughead pulled Betty closer and shifted.
Laying down on the bed, Jughead pulled Betty against his chest and held her tight.
Betty wrapped her arm around Jughead's waist, laid her head on his chest and cried.
Home had stopped being a place when she was 16 years old. It had become a person. Jughead. And now finally after years of being away, she was home again.
Feeling Betty's tears soak through his shirt, Jughead buried his face in her hair and cried himself.
Home had never meant to him. Actually, it had meant less than nothing. Being homeless most of his youth, Jughead had stopped looking for that warm comforting feeling.
Well, he hadn't gotten a choice to keep ignoring that longing when Betty Cooper had stepped back into his life. She became his home. The only place he wanted to be, was wherever she was.
Pulling her closer, he rubbed her back, "I…"
Betty shifted and looked up at him, "Me too," she whispered laying her head back down.
Alice and FP stood it the doorway and watched their kids cuddle and fall asleep. Life had taken them in different directions, but somehow, they had both found their way back to Riverdale.
"Tuck them in?" FP asked noticing that both still on coats and shoes.
"Yes," Alice laughed following him into the room. She knew that FP was struggling the fact that he had known about Forest before Jughead.
Softly and quickly, Alice got Betty's coat off and laid her head back down against Jughead's chest. Leaning over and kissing her head, "I love you honey," she whispered.
FP jostled Jughead awake and had him take his own coat off, "your old enough to undress yourself," he muttered taking off his son's shoes.
Jughead laughed and laid back down pulling Betty to him again. He wasn't going to let her go. Not again.
Forest woke up an hour later and wondered into his mom's room. Stopping in the doorway he looked at her bed and saw his mom and dad cuddled together still sleeping.
Alice stopped and took in Forest looking at his parents, "come on little guy," she said picking him, "you must be hungry."
"Yes," he agreed eagerly, "mac and cheese?"
Laughing as they went downstairs, "of course."
Jughead woke a little later and left at peace. Looking at the woman beside him, he smiled. Betty was still fast asleep.
Climbing off the bed, he headed downstairs, following the giggle of a happy toddler. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, he watched his dad toss his son in the air. Laughing he walked into the living room, "Daddy!" Forest squealed.
Catching Forest as he came running at him, Jughead scooped him and spun him around. Forest wrapped his arms around his dad's neck and held on tight.
"Again!" Forest called when Jughead stopped.
Spinning again, Jughead stopped when his stomach growled, "hungry?" Forest asked giggling.
"Always," Jughead said kissing his head and setting him down.
"Jughead, there's plenty in the kitchen," Alice said from the couch.
"Thanks Alice."
Alice nodded to FP and got up to play with Forest. FP followed Jughead into the kitchen.
"How are you feeling with all of this?" FP asked standing by the island.
"Confused," Jughead admitted, "but I love both of them," he stated looking at Forest.
"Jug," FP started, "I need to…"
"You've known about Forest the whole time," Jughead filled in.
"How?"
Smirking, "it's the only thing that makes sense," he said, "Betty wasn't about to tell Alice and she was terrified to tell me," he continued, "so that leaves you."
Taking a deep breath, "you're not mad?" FP asked looking at his son.
"No, still confused."
"Sit down," FP instructed, "I'll try to explain."
Making himself a sandwich Jughead sat down at he island and looked at his dad, "Betty was a little over 16 weeks when she told me," he started, "she was scared and heartbroken," he continued, "you two hadn't talked since you left for school, that stupid pact you made that was supposed to make it easier for the two of you to move on…"
"And I started dating Chloe."
"Yes."
"We broke up before Christmas," Jughead spouted, "I came home to see Betty, to work things out with her."
FP swallowed hard, "I know you did," he said, "but she was in a pretty nervous spot. She hadn't told Alice and she didn't want to disrupt what you had going on at school."
"I would have supported her, I would have gone to Connecticut," Jughead argued.
"If you had, then you wouldn't have the 'Darling Duo'," Betty said coming into the kitchen.
Both Jughead and FP turned to look at her, "We were safe, Jug," she said wiping her eyes, "I don't regret Forest, at all, but I wanted both of to have a chance at closure."
"I missed 3 years of my sons' life!" Jughead seethed, "that's not closure, Betty."
Betty wrapped her arms around her stomach as Jughead stormed out of the house. FP got up to go after Jughead, but Alice stopped him, "Let me try."
Alice found Jughead sitting on the front steps, "Jughead," she said coming up behind him.
"Not right now, Alice," he stated.
Sitting down beside him, she heard the pain in his voice, "I'm sorry," she said placing a hand on his arm.
Looking at her, "I'm part of the reason Betty didn't tell you," Alice stated, "she didn't want to hear 'I told you so', and I don't blame her."
Rolling his shoulders, "She was scared of how you would react," she admitted, "your guys senior year, you two couldn't keep your hands off each other and it made me nervous. I saw my daughter falling more and more in love with you and it scared me."
"Why?"
"Because she trusted you."
"Why is that a bad thing?" Jughead asked angrily.
Alice grimaced, "it's not Jughead, but for me it was terrifying."
"You didn't want us together," he said.
"You're right," she nodded, "I feared you, scared of what you could bring out in my daughter."
"Why?"
Running her fingers over her mouth, "Betty was nothing like me when she was a teenager, she was smarter, had a better head on her shoulders, knew who she was, and then…"
"Then I came along?" Jughead guessing shifting uncomfortably.
"Yes and no," Alice said, "Jughead, please…"
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
"You brought Betty peace, something she desperately needed. You brought her comfort, something I was never able to give her, because she was always comforting me."
Jughead looked at the woman sitting beside him. Alice Cooper never admitted when she was wrong.
"I can't apologize for Betty and I won't try," Alice said, "that is between you two."
"You're right," Jughead said starting to stand up.
"Jughead," she said taking his hand, "she was scared of losing her home."
Looking at the house, "she didn't lose her home," he said matter of factly.
Alice shook her head as tears started to fall, "this house isn't her home and hasn't been since she was 16."
"What do you mean?" Jughead asked his brain foggy.
"You're her home."
Staring at Alice Cooper, Jughead thought he hadn't heard her right, "I'm what?" he asked.
"You're my home," Betty said coming to join them with Forest in her arms, "our home," she whispered, hugging Forest closer.
Looking between Betty and Forest, Jughead felt his throat tighten with emotion, "then why?" he choked out, tears falling.
Betty handed Forest to Alice and came to stand in front of Jughead, "I don't have an answer Jug," she admitted putting her hands on his arms, "I was terrified of losing you. Losing what we had and scared of possibly never having you in my life again."
Unconsciously, Jughead had cupped Betty's cheeks, "you're never going to lose me," he whispered, "I love you, Betty Cooper."
"Jughead Jones, I love you," she whispered.
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