Betty shot upright like a rocket after having what was becoming a more and more realistic dream where Louis arrived and drug her back to Chicago by her hair. Breathing heavily, she kicked away the bedcovers and tiptoed across the hardwood floors to Archie's room. The door was open as it always was, so she crept across the room and slid into the bed beside him. She'd gotten it into her head to try sleeping alone again. She should have known it wasn't a good idea. Thankfully Archie didn't stir except to wrap an arm around her waist.

She listened to his breathing and could feel his heartbeat against her back. She relaxed into the mattress, listening to him breathe, letting her eyes drift closed as sleep took her again.

Archie woke at first light. He'd really hoped he'd eventually adjust and be able to sleep in, but apparently it was going to take more than a few weeks. Beside him was Betty Cooper. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, but he knew she must have had a nightmare. He was starting to get used to waking up with her curled up against him. They had yet to have sex a second time even though it was probably assumed by the entire town that they'd been knocking boots for years, probably even back in high school.

He brushed a strand of hair away from Betty's face just as she began to stir.

"Good morning, Blondie," he smiled down at her.

"Good morning, Red," Betty smiled up at him.

"How'd you sleep?" his eyes showed a bit of concern.

"Not bad after I got here," Betty admitted sheepishly. "I didn't disturb you, did I?"

"Not at all," Archie leaned in for a kiss. "I'm glad you came to me."

Ding-dong

"It's barely six," Archie frowned, "Who could that be?"

"Maybe FP and Sheriff Keller," Betty said. "They've been trying to get me alone since we got home. FP is super suspicious about why I finished the semester remotely."

"I'll get it," Archie tossed away the bedcovers and pulled on a nearby shirt.

"I'll get the coffee started," Betty followed him out of the room. She stopped in her bedroom to grab her robe before making her way down the back stairwell to the kitchen.

The knocking became more persistent the closer Archie got to the door. "Cool your jets, I'm coming," Archie hollered out. He opened the door ready to give the town's sheriff and deputy a piece of his mind for disturbing them so early in the morning, but he didn't recognize the person on the other side of the door. "Who are you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," the shorter man in a polo shirt and khaki pants turned towards him.

"I'm the guy who owns this place," Archie snapped at the inconsiderate man, "And you're knocking on the door at the butt crack of dawn. Come back during business hours."

"I'm looking for my girlfriend," he halted Archie's attempt at shutting the door. "The teenager next door said I could find her here."

"Sorry, no one lives here except me and my girlfriend," Archie said, "Try the house on the other side of the teenager."

"She was very clear that her stepsister lives here," the man said again, "Her name is Elizabeth, but I think she goes by Betty around here."

Archie felt a moment of panic as he realized who this man was. "Ah, you're talking about Jellybean. She's always playing pranks on us neighbors," Archie replied, "Betty left town to go to college. She never planned on coming back."

"I see," Louis said, "You haven't seen her?"

"Not since I graduated high school. She was a year behind me."

"I guess I must have some false intelligence," Louis frowned, "Sorry for bothering you. If you see Elizabeth Cooper around, can you let her know that her boyfriend is looking for her."

"Not that it's any of my business, but if she was your girlfriend, would you have to go looking for her? Wouldn't she be with you?" Archie asked.

"You're right," Louis narrowed his eyes, "It's none of your business."

"I'll give her the message if I see her," Archie closed the door quickly.

"Is he gone?" Betty stood in the doorway of the kitchen, biting her lip nervously.

Archie looked out the window and nodded, "How much did you hear?"

"Enough," Betty said, "I need to talk to FP, don't I?"

"Sheriff Keller, too, ASAP," Archie nodded.

"I knew he'd find me," Betty felt herself tremble as Archie went to her, holding her close.

"He'll never get close to you," he stroked her hair, "I'll never let that happen."

"My knight in shining armor," Betty smiled.

"Always," he kissed her forehead.

"Hello? FP, are you here?" Betty called as she and Archie entered through the kitchen door of her childhood home.

"Hey, Betts," Jellybean came running into the kitchen, tossing her arms around her stepsister's waist.

Jellybean adored her stepsister, even though things hadn't worked out with her brother. Her eager greeting was part of their routine, but they hadn't been able to spend time together as she gone away to camp just after Betty and Archie got home and had just returned.

"Hey, J-Bean," Betty braced herself for impact, "Is your dad around? I have to talk to him about something."

"Yeah, he's in the shower. He should be down soon," she replied.

"Is Sheriff Keller here yet?" Archie asked.

"Is he supposed to be?" Jellybean scrunched her face in confusion.

"We need to talk to him and FP about something," Betty smiled. "I've missed you so much. How about I make up for missing your sweet sixteen party by taking you shopping and out to lunch sometime soon?"

"Yes, absolutely," Jellybean bobbed her head, "Are you and Archie having fun playing house next door?"

"We're roommates, J-Bean," Betty tugged at a few strands of Jellybean's multi-colored hair. The young woman had a unique sense of fashion to go along with her unique name. Betty loved it.

"Yeah right," Jellybean rolled her eyes, "I'm sixteen, not stupid."

"Too smart for your own good is what I'd call it," Archie smiled. "How's Riverdale High these days?"

"Sweet Pea's little brother got kicked out for trying to buy Jingle Jangle," Jellybean said, "He so deserved it. What kind of moron tries to buy drugs in front of the counseling office?"

"Jingle Jangle?" Betty frowned, "That stuff is still around?"

"Not if Dad has anything to say about it," Jellybean replied.

"And as the town's first deputy, I do," FP entered the room. "How's it going guys?"

"Hey, Mister Jones," Archie shook his hand. He would always be grateful to the man for stepping in to the father figure role when his own father passed away suddenly,

"Is Riverdale treating you both okay? Lodge hasn't given you any trouble, has he?" FP patted the man on his back.

"It's different than I remember it," Archie admitted as he looked towards Betty for a moment, "It feels good though, like it's where I belong. Thankfully I haven't seen hide nor hair of Hiram Lodge."

"It's good to have you both back," FP nodded. "How's the construction business, Red?"

"It's going to take awhile to figure everything out. Mom and I were lucky that Uncle Frank agreed to run things until I was ready to take over. I'm learning quickly that it's going to be a steep learning curve," Archie shrugged.

"Probably true," FP snorted as he weaved his way towards the coffee pot to help himself to a much needed cup of caffeine. "Hey, Stepdaughter, how are you?"

Betty smiled at the teasing glimmer in his eyes, "Okay," she bit her lip, "I need to talk to you and Sheriff Keller about something. I called him to join us for breakfast. Do you have a bit of time before you have to get to the office?"

"For you, I sure do," he assured her, "It's Saturday, it's optional for me to go in anyways."

"Great, thanks," she smiled.

"No problem," FP smiled and traded looks with Archie. There was a bit of concern on his face which the elder man translated as he'd finally be clued in on what's been going on.

"Hello?" The front door opened. "Anyone here?"

"Kitchen," Jellybean hollered.

Tom Keller entered the room, "Morning everyone."

"Hey, there, Tommy," Jellybean greeted him.

"That's Sheriff Keller to you, young lady," Tom tried to give her a stern look that came off as more amused.

"Am I allowed to stay?" Jellybean asked.

"I don't think that's a hot idea," Betty said. "If your dad wants to tell you later, then he will."

"I'm sixteen," Jellybean reminded her.

"Upstairs, JB," FP gave her a stern look that brokered no arguments, "No eavesdropping."

The sixteen year old sighed heavily and stomped up the stairs.

"Thanks," Betty bit her lip nervously, "What I have to tell you is a bit sensitive."

"You have our attention," Tom parked himself on a stool at the kitchen counter after helping himself to some coffee.

"I...uh...don't really know where to start," Betty admitted.

"The beginning usually works," FP offered.

Betty bit her lip and looked at Archie who nodded at her.

"I didn't decide to finish my schooling via remote learning just because Louis and I broke up," she said quietly. "I did it to put as much distance between us as I could."

Archie reached for her hand to give her the necessary courage to continued.

Betty's eyes cast to the floor as she spoke, "Louis was abusive throughout most of our relationship."

"He what?" FP growled.

"How bad?" Sheriff Keller asked.

"At first, it was a tap here and there, but then it was shoving. When he grabbed me hard enough to leave bruises, I left."

"You're holding back," FP studied her, "It was more than him grabbing you."

"He was always careful to not bruise me where it was visible," Betty stated, "He would vigorously shake me sometimes and call me names."

"You should have come to us," Tom told her gently, "We would have protected you."

"His family is wickedly connected," Betty replied, "I was worried what might happen to everyone."

"We can look out for ourselves," FP reminded her.

Betty smiled, "I'm aware."

"Have you seen him since you returned to Riverdale?" FP asked.

"Well," Betty started.

"I sent him to Archie's this morning," Jellybean said from the doorway. "I didn't know." She looked positively devastated that she could have inadvertently put her stepsister in danger.

"Oh, Jelly, I know, and I'm not even a tiny bit angry with you," Betty assured her.

"He's in town?" FP growled, "We'll have that little bastard in jail before lunch."

"FP, you don't have jurisdiction," Betty reminded him, "All the abuse occurred in Chicago."

"I'll find something to jail him on," FP snarled, "I don't care if it's running a damn stop sign."

"FP, you need to calm down," Tom replied.

"Like hell I do," FP hissed, "My stepdaughter was roughed up by some rich punk."

"FP, I don't want you ruining your career for me," Betty said.

"FP, Betty just wants your help in filing a restraining order," Archie chimed in when he could see Betty's confidence start to wilt.

"Yes, that's step one," FP replied.

"I'm afraid to ask what step two is," Betty said.

"I kill him," FP said.

"And I help him hide the body," Tom's expression was mildly amused. He didn't for one second think his deputy would commit the act. He'd worked too hard to clean himself up.

"Ok, dial it back, both of you," Betty scowled at the pair, "Yes, he's a jerk and deserves a swift kick in the ass, but he's not worth throwing your lives away, not to mention the hell that will rain down on you when his family finds out what you did. They make Hiram Lodge look like a choir boy."

"How in the heck did you get involved with someone like that in the first place?" FP asked, "Didn't you learn your lesson from Veronica and Archie here."

"I was six months into our relationship before I ever met his family. It was another eight months before I figured out they were mobbed up, and that was me investigating them because something felt off," Betty explained. "I tried to break things off when I found out."

"He wouldn't let you," FP surmised.

"Exactly," Betty relaxed against Archie. "I didn't know how to tell you guys. I knew Mom would freak."

FP and Tom both nodded in agreement at Betty's pronouncement.

"What's this guy's last name?" Tom asked.

"Radford," Betty said.

"As in Daniel Radford?"

"That's his grandfather," Betty nodded.

Tom looked at his deputy, "I'll bring the shovel, and you get a gun."

"Sheriff Keller, don't even think about it," Betty wagged a finger at him sternly, "Make a case against him if he's a criminal, but don't throw your life away because his grandson got rough with me."

"Does he know your stepfather is a lawman?" FP asked.

"I never told him," Betty shook her head, "Maybe I should have."

"I definitely think you should have," Archie said, "In fact, I think you should tell him all about your family. Like the stepfather who once ran a gang and is now the town's deputy."

FP smiled, "And the brother, the serial killer."

"Then there's the grandfather and father who were also serial killers," Jellybean chimed in gathering looks from the assembled people, "I read Jug's book."

"Don't forget the unintentional incest."

"The huh?" Archie looked towards Betty.

"Jason and Polly are third cousins," Betty reminded him.

"Yeah, well, I don't count that," Archie scoffed, "And no one else does."

"Look, Betty, the first thing we're going to do is make sure you're safe," FP told her sincerely, "We'll figure out where Louis is staying, and I'll sit him down and have a nice chat with him."

"FP," Betty scowled at him.

"Honestly, just a chat," FP held up his hands, "I may threaten violence, but I'll only act violent if he forces my hand."

"Just don't kill him," Archie said, "Maim him if you have to, but don't leave any marks."

FP smirked, shaking his head, "God, you sound just like your dad."

"The highest of compliments," Betty tugged lightly at his shirt.

"Damn right," FP patted his back.

"Let's talk about something else," Betty requested, "Where's Mom?"

"She's working on a story, so she's out," FP replied, "She's been knee deep in it for weeks. No idea what it's about, but she's super excited about it."

"I'm sure we'll hear all about it soon enough," Betty said just as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."

"Cheryl, what are you doing here?" Betty hugged the redhead after she opened the door to find her on the porch.

"I was in town with Toni. She wanted to stop by to see Fangs, so I came here," she said.

"Come in," Betty admitted her.

"I went to Archie's home first, but no one answered. Since both your vehicles are in the driveway, I assumed you were over here getting some free coffee and breakfast," Cheryl stepped in, "Am I missing something?"

"I was talking to Sheriff Keller and FP about my current situation," Betty shifted uncomfortably, "We're onto better topics. Did you want to join us?"

"Sure," Cheryl followed Betty into house.

"We have company," Betty announced.

"Hey, Cherry-Berry," Archie gave her a hug, "How are you?"

"Can't complain," she smiled.

"Cheryl, you remember FP and Sheriff Keller, of course?" Betty asked.

"Yes, two men who are hard to forget," Cheryl gave them both a wave.

"Want some coffee?" Tom held up the pot.

"No, I'm good," Cheryl replied, "I was just checking in on Betty."

"She knew?" FP asked.

"I needed someone to get my stuff from my dorm," Betty shrugged. "She offered to take her bow and arrow with her."

"She wouldn't let me," Cheryl frowned.

"Yeah, she won't let us touch him either," FP sighed, "She's killing our chance at fun."

"You're hysterical," Betty rolled her eyes in her stepfather's direction.

"How's Toni doing?" Archie asked.

"She's wonderful," Cheryl smiled.

Betty studied her cousin carefully, thinking of their conversation at Christmas and why Toni had graduated early before she smiled, "It worked?"

"It worked," Cheryl nodded.

"Ahhh!" Betty shrieked and hugged Cheryl, jumping up and down.

"What are we missing?" Archie watched on in confusion.

"Toni's pregnant," Cheryl admitted.

"Wow, Cheryl, that's fantastic," Archie replied.

"We're getting married in a small ceremony in a few weeks," Cheryl added, "Of course you're all welcome."

"Are you kidding me? I'll be there with bells on," Betty smiled.

"You better be. I need a maid of honor," Cheryl smiled.

"Absolutely," the pair hugged again.

"Is that why Toni went to see Fangs? She needs a best man?" Betty asked.

Cheryl laughed, "Naturally."

"We need to go shopping," Betty said.

"We'll go together," Cheryl smiled.

"We'll take JB with us," Betty said, "Jellybean, get your shoes. We're going shopping,"

"Is that the best idea right now?" Archie wrapped a protective arm around Betty's waist.

"Are you offering to be my bodyguard?" she glanced up at him with an adoring smile as she playfully tugged at his shirt, "I mean a national champion boxer is about as good as they come."

"We could use a man's opinion," Cheryl said.

FP snorted, "You walked right into that one, Red."

"Yeah, I think I did," he sighed. "I suppose I can be the designated purse holder."

"JB, you coming?" Betty asked.

"Is it okay, Dad?"

"Yeah," FP handed over a credit card.

"My treat," Betty said.

"No, my treat," Cheryl corrected her cousin.

"Heck yeah," she grabbed her father's credit card just in case. Even though Alice was nice to her, they hadn't exactly bonded, so Jellybean was a bit starved for female role models.

"Come on," Betty took Archie's hand as they left the house. "It won't be so bad."

"Good luck, Arch," FP called after him with a chuckle.

"Thanks," Archie smiled.

TBC…