Please don't hate me! I haven't watched season 5, but yes I know that Bughead is no longer together. I just had this idea floating in my head. I hope you enjoy.
I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters!
This is the background to the rest of the story.
Betty sat in the sterile room and picked at her nails. She was nervous. It had been weeks since her last period. That wasn't uncommon, in high school she had always been irregular. Too much stress her doctor at home would tell her.
"Elizabeth," Dr. Goodwill said standing in front of the young college freshman, "Elizabeth Cooper?" she said again.
"Huh?" Betty answered finally seeing the doctor, "sorry I go by Betty."
Nodding, "okay, Betty," Dr. Goodwill said grabbing the stool from in front of the sink, "I have your test results."
"Okay," she stated beginning to fiddle with her necklace. A small silver "J" that FP had given her the day she left for Connecticut. Jughead hadn't been able to bring himself to, because it meant goodbye.
"Betty, you're eight weeks pregnant," the doctor stated matter of factly.
Pregnant, Betty thought, just like my mom and Polly. A teenage mother.
"Betty are you alright?" Dr. Goodwill asked noticing how pale her patient had become.
Shaking her head, "yes," Betty whispered, "I'll be fine."
Standing up and placing a reassuring hand on the Betty's shoulder, "you do have options."
"I'm keeping the baby," Betty snapped.
"Okay."
"Sorry," she sheepishly replied, "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Chuckling, "it's okay, that's actually a common response."
"I can't find out the sex, can I?' Betty asked, hopeful.
"Not yet, a few more weeks."
"Is the baby, okay?" she asked placing her hands on her stomach.
Nodding and smiling, "yes. Would you like to see your baby?"
Wiping her eyes, "yes, can I have a picture?"
"Of course," Dr. Goodwill answered, "Let me go see if we have an ultrasound room open."
As Betty watched the doctor leave, she lost herself in thought again. "Jughead," she whispered aloud, covering her face with her hands. How was she going to tell him? He was in Iowa. In college. Just like her.
"Betty," Dr. Goodwill said looking at the young woman, "are you sure you're, okay?"
"Yes," she whispered getting up off the table.
"Okay, then follow me. We have an open room."
Walking down the hall, Betty didn't look around. She just stared down at her right now, flat stomach.
Laying down and lifting up her shirt, she squirmed when Dr. Goodwill squirted the gel on her stomach, "sorry it's always cold."
"It's okay," Betty said as the screen began to move and the most wonderful sound came through, her baby's heartbeat. Hers and Jughead's baby.
Taking the sonogram picture from the doctor, Betty's eye began to well up again, "a baby," she whispered.
"Your baby is healthy and has a strong heartbeat," Dr. Goodwill said walking Betty back towards the waiting room, "I'd like to see you in a couple weeks for another sonogram and some updates about how you're feeling/doing."
Betty nodded, "Dr. Goodwill, when is it due?" she asked.
"May."
Nodding, "and Betty, I'd also suggest starting a prenatal vitamin and telling your family."
"The vitamin I can do," Betty answered.
Not pushing, "that will be a good start."
Grabbing her coat, Betty walked out of the hospital and covered her face with her hands, she was pregnant. Her mom's biggest fear had come true. She was never going to be able to go home again.
"Betty?" Sophie said rushing up to her friend, "what's wrong?"
Collapsing into her friend, "I'm pregnant," she cried.
Sophie pulled her friend close. She didn't have the words to say to make her feel better. All she could do was be there for her.
As the two walked back to campus, "are you going to tell your mom?"
Barking out a laugh, "are you kidding?"
"Betty she'll want to know."
"No," Betty snapped, "she will want to gloat that what she thought was going to happen, happened."
Wrapping an arm around her, "she'll be upset, but she'll love this baby."
"I can't tell her," Betty sobbed.
"What about?" Sophie asked, but dared not say his name.
Betty stopped and faced her friend, "I don't know."
"It's going to be okay," Sophie soothed, pulling Betty into a fierce hug, "we will figure this out."
Nodding against her friends' shoulder, they finished their walk back to their dorm.
Sitting at her desk, Betty stared at her computer. Her email was up. Jughead's email in the slot. But she couldn't bring herself to type anything. They had agreed, no contact. It would be easier.
Tears welling, Betty slammed her laptop closed. Digging her nails into her palms she squelched a scream. She couldn't do that to Jug. She wouldn't do that to him.
Standing up she wiped her palms with Kleenex and climbed onto her bed. Rolling onto her left side, like all the blogs said she should be sleeping. Grabbing her pillow, Betty willed herself to sleep.
Waking up disorientated, Betty grabbed her phone. 1:32 stared at her. Unlocking the screen, she opened her texts and tapped on Jughead's name.
Jug I'm pregnant.
We're having a baby.
My mom was right.
I love you.
I miss you.
How am I supposed to do this without you?
Deleting every message, Betty laid back down and stared at the ceiling. She was going to figure this out. Yes, she would tell Jughead about the baby. Some day.
The weeks went by, Betty kept her secret. Her mom had called and wanted her to come home for Thanksgiving, but she said she couldn't.
In reality she wanted to, she wanted to tell someone other than her professors and Sophie she was pregnant, but she couldn't see Jughead. Not now.
He was seeing someone. Someone new. Her name, Chloe. Betty's heart, broken.
Walking into Dr. Goodwill's office, Betty was nervous. She clung to Sophie's hand. Today she was finding out the sex of her baby.
"Betty," Sophie huffed, "Betty, my hand."
"Sorry," Betty apologized loosening her grip.
"Hi girls, ready to see if we can find out the sex?"
"Yes!" Betty exclaimed, then looked embarrassed.
"It's okay, Betty," Dr. Goodwill said, "you're more than welcome to feel excited. It's your baby."
Smiling and rubbing her rounding stomach, Betty laid down on the table and lifted her shirt.
Sophie held her best friends' hand and squeezed. She was excited and nervous. Betty hadn't told her family she was pregnant. And as far as Sophie knew she hadn't told the father either.
"Alright, there's your baby," Dr. Goodwill said when the screen came to life, "oh let's see if we can't get them to roll over."
"Them?" Betty coughed, "as in more than one?"
"Sorry, wrong choice of words," the doctor corrected, "them meaning the baby."
"Oh."
"Well, it seems that your fear helped this little guy become braver."
"A boy," Betty breathed staring at the screen.
"Yes," Dr. Goodwill said pointing to the screen, "here is his penis."
Sophie laughed, "sorry…"
"It's okay, happens frequently."
Betty stared at the screen tears filling her eyes. A boy.
Wrapping her arms around her friend, Sophie squeezed hard. Betty missed Jughead. She had seen her friend creeping on his Facebook page more and more recently, ever since his new relationship status had popped up.
Taking the sonogram picture, Betty and Sophie left the hospital. Walking back towards campus, "I have to find a way to stay here over Christmas break," Betty admitted hugging her arms around herself.
"Betty."
"Sophie, I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't deal with that gloating," she admitted, "but mostly I can't handle seeing Jughead with Chloe and having our parents look at me with sympathy in their eyes," she finished wiping her eyes.
Her emotions all over the place.
Stopping she looked at the window of the café she and Sophie frequented, Café Bloome. There was a help wanted sign.
"I think I found my way to stay in Connecticut and not go home to Riverdale."
Shaking her head, Sophie followed her inside, "Hi, can I talk to Susan?" Betty asked at the counter.
"Betty, Sophie, back again girls," Susan said coming out from the back.
Betty smiled, "actually Susan."
"Ah my help wanted sign."
"Yes, I don't have any experience, but I'm a fast learner," Betty defended.
Susan smiled, she liked Betty, "well it will be slow in the coming weeks as the college is shutting down for winter break."
"That's okay," Betty stammered, nervous, "I don't want to go home," she admitted, "plus I need to start making money so I can support myself."
Walking the girls to a small table, "why don't you want to go home?" Susan asked looking at Sophie.
Betty stood up and unbuttoned her coat, revealing her growing bump.
"Oh, Betty," Susan grinned standing up and pulling the young woman close, "your family doesn't know?"
"No, I don't want to tell them."
"Why?"
"Because my mom will say I told you so."
"Why would she say that?"
"Because my boyfriend," she choked out, "and I couldn't keep our hands off each other at the end of our senior year."
Susan nodded and looked at Sophie, who just nodded; confirming Susan's suspicion that the baby's dad didn't know.
"Well Betty, if you're willing to help me do some deep cleaning around here will it's slow, then you've got yourself a job."
Nodding eagerly, "I'll take it."
"I'll find some pregnancy safe cleaning supplies."
"Thank you, Susan."
"You're welcome."
Betty nodded and rubbed her bump. Susan watched, "Betty do you have a place to stay while the campus is shut down?" she asked.
"No," Betty whispered.
"You do now, Sophie you're more than welcome to stay with her if you would like."
"Really?"
"Yes, I know you two are close and right now Betty is going to need a strong support system."
Betty wiped her eyes, "where would it be?"
"Above the café."
"There's space above the café?" Sophie asked.
"When I bought the lease for the café, the owner/seller threw in the space upstairs," Susan said standing up, "come on I'll show you."
The girls got up and followed Susan. The apartment was small, but homey. It had two bedrooms and two baths. More than enough space for the girls. And it was furnished.
"I usually rent it to college student's, but I didn't get a good feeling from any this year, so it's been empty."
"We'd be able to move out of the dorm," Sophie said looking around, "it's close to campus so we wouldn't miss out on anything."
"And I'd have privacy as I get bigger," Betty finished her sentence.
"I…"
"It's okay," Betty said quietly, "I love my baby."
"Do you have a name picked out?" Susan asked as Betty wandered into what she considered the master bedroom.
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the IV," Betty whispered as tears started to stream, "Forest for short."
Susan and Sophie wrapped their arms around Betty. She had finally said his name. It had been 4 months, but she had finally said it.
"We'll pay rent," Betty choked out in the middle of the hug.
Laughing, "Betty, right now you worry about that baby, not rent."
"No," Betty said stepping away from them, "I need to concentrate on anything and everything else," she finished rubbing her bump to reassure herself.
Both women looked at her and nodded, "I have to ask."
"It's a family name."
"Wait so Jughead's name is Forsythe Pendleton?" Sophie laughed then slapped her hand over her mouth when Betty's façade crumbled.
Betty pivoted and locked herself in the bedroom behind her. Sliding down the door she covered her mouth with hand, to stifle the sobs now racking her body.
Sophie rushed the door, "oh God, Betty, I'm so sorry," she cried, "I didn't think."
Susan picked Sophie up and walked her to the couch, "okay, I need some details."
Sophie nodded, "Jughead was/is Betty's first real love. Her high school sweetheart."
Pulling out her phone she scrolled through Betty's Facebook and found a picture of the two of them. Jughead in his beanie and Betty with her ponytail.
Susan closed her eyes and nodded. Turning her head, she looked at the locked bedroom door and understood.
"Betty's mom and sister were both teenager mothers," Sophie supplied, "her mom got pregnant by Jughead's dad…"
"What?" Susan questioned turning her attention back to the young woman.
"I know, right," she giggled, "small town life, your high school hook up's son dates your daughter and they fall in love."
"So yes, Betty and Jughead share a half-brother, Charles," Sophie continued, "well then her sister Polly dated their 'cousin' and got pregnant."
Susan looked at the bedroom door and took a deep breath, "and I'm guessing her mom didn't want Betty to follow in the family footsteps."
"No."
"Which is why her family doesn't know."
"Yep."
"Why hasn't she told Jughead?"
"Because they made a pact when they broke up that they wouldn't contact each other, it would be easier for them to move on."
"Which he did," a small voice added.
Sophie stood up as Susan turned, Betty held her hand up, she didn't want any more hugs, she wanted to cry and be upset, she wanted to feel these emotions, the heartbreak from losing Jughead.
"Her name is Chloe."
"Betty," Susan started.
Betty shook her head, "I'm okay," she pushed out, "I miss him," she admitted, "I'm still in love with him," she finished, "I think I always will be."
Slapping her hands on her knees, Susan stood up and pulled Betty close, "I know you don't want hugs right now, but honey, you need them."
Wrapping her arms around the woman, Betty let herself feel what she had been suppressing since finding out she was pregnant, "he deserves to know," Susan added quietly as Betty cried.
Betty nodded, "I know, I just…"
"Your heart broken."
She nodded as her tears coursed freely down her cheeks. Sophie got up and pulled her friend close and held her tight.
Susan watched the two girls and realized that Betty would be okay. She would be heartbroken for a while, especially if that little boy looked anything like his dad. But Susan also knew that Betty hoped with all her heart that, Forest had green eyes to mirror his dad's and inky blank hair with rampant curls running through.
Alice got the notice from Yale; Betty had terminated her housing contract. "What in the world?" she questioned picking up her phone.
FP picked up the paper from the counter as Alice clicked Betty's name. He could tell something was up. Betty wasn't coming home for winter break, but Jughead was.
"Betty," Alice snapped, "why did I just get a notice that you terminated your housing contract?"
Betty took a deep breath, she had known the call would come, "Mom, I found a small apartment with Sophie."
"You moved into an apartment?" Alice seethed, "you need credit for that as well as a job and a way to support all of the bills."
Nodding along, Betty let her mom finish her tirade, "I found a job mom, I'm working at Café Bloome," she started, "Susan, the owner is mine and Sophie land lady and she gave us a good deal."
"Why the need to move out of the dorm?" Alice questioned squinting her eyes as if Betty could see her.
She could, "Our dorm room was feeling claustrophobic, and with both of us staying here over winter break, this made the most sense," she finished looking down at her even bigger bump.
"Does this have anything to do with Jughead coming home?" Alice asked quietly looking at FP.
Gasping, "no."
Alice nodded and closed her eyes, "okay, can I come visit you?" she asked, "I miss you."
Betty's jaw trembled, "I miss you too, mom," she said as evenly as possible.
"Let me know if I can come for a visit," Alice said sadly, knowing her daughter was fighting back tears.
"I will." Betty said quickly hanging up the phone.
"Alice," FP whispered walking towards her.
"She's hurting FP," she cried as pulled her into a hug, "my Betty is hurting and I can't make it go away."
FP closed his eyes and squeezed Alice close, he knew that Betty was hurting; but he also knew that Jughead was in the same boat. He missed Betty.
"That stupid pact," he grumbled.
Alice laughed, "no kidding," she agreed, "who told them that would be a good idea?"
"I think they took our example."
"Not the example I wanted them to take."
"Me either, but here we are," FP said as the front door opened and Jughead walked in, alone.
"No Chloe?" Alice choked out.
Jughead shook his head dusting off the snow, "no, we broke up."
"Sorry to hear that."
Looking at the woman, he knew she wasn't, "thanks."
"How about Pop's for dinner?" Alice asked looking between the two Jones men.
Both nodded, "Is Betty coming home today?" Jughead asked, hopeful.
FP looked at his son and saw his eyes fall. Neither of them had to say anything, "she doesn't want to see me?" he surmised.
"Jug," FP started as his phone rang, Betty.
"Sorry, I have to take this," he said pulling away from Alice.
"I'm going to set my stuff upstairs," Jughead supplied walking towards the stairs; that led to the room he had shared with Betty for almost 2 years.
FP walked out onto the deck, "Betty," he whispered.
"FP," Betty cried.
"What's wrong?" he said, instantly in Dad mode.
Not able to hold it in anymore, "I'm pregnant," she spewed.
Rubbing his neck, FP took a deep breath, "how…"
"A little over 16 weeks."
"Oh, Betty."
"Please don't tell my mom," She cried, again, "I can't hear her say 'I told you so'."
Hearing the fear in her voice, he knew he couldn't betray her trust, "does Jug know?"
"No," she whispered, "I didn't…"
Alice stuck her head out of the door, "ready to go eat?" she asked, "who are you talking to?"
"Keller," he supplied, "we'll discuss the rest later."
"Thank you."
Hanging up the phone, FP followed Alice inside and looked at Jughead, who looked worse for wear.
Walking to the car, "How is Betty enjoying Yale?" Jughead asked, looking for any information about his first love.
"She's enjoying it," Alice started, "she and her roommate just rented an apartment above a little café near campus."
"An apartment?" he asked, confused.
"Yes, Betty wanted to make some extra cash and the owner was looking for some help so Betty and Sophie, her roommate, got hired and decided to stay in Connecticut for winter break."
"Why does she want extra cash?"
"Oh, you know Betty, she wants to travel and do things," Alice lied through her teeth.
Jughead met his dad's eyes in the rear-view mirror. Betty didn't want to travel. There was something else going on. Something no one was telling him.
FP coughed in the driver's seat; hoping against all odds that his sons wouldn't investigate why Betty wanted extra cash.
Dinner was a quiet affair, no one wanted to show their hand. Alice was furious that Betty wasn't home, but also at Jughead for holding true to that stupid pact. Jughead was trying to dissect why Betty hadn't come home, it couldn't just be because of him. FP watched the other two at the table and fought scratching his neck. Betty was pregnant with Jughead's baby and he was the only one in the house who knew.
Back home, FP pulled out his phone and went back out to the deck. Hitting dial, "Betty."
Susan brought Betty her phone, FP, showing, "it's Jughead's dad."
"FP," she almost cried.
"Do you know?"
"A little boy."
Swallowing his emotions, "do you…"
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the IV," Betty told him, "Forest for short."
Laughing, "knowing that name, do you really want to do that to your son?"
"I love that name."
An errant tear ran down FP's face, "I know you do."
"Please don't tell him," She pleaded, "I know I need to tell him, I just don't know how, since…"
"They broke up Betty," FP said finishing her thought.
Letting out a held breath, "they did?"
"That's what he said."
Betty closed her eyes as the tears fell, "Thank you, FP."
"Do you need anything?"
Laughing, "actually…"
"I thought you might," he said, "what do you need?"
"I found a crib and changing table at a store here, but I have no way to get it to the apartment and up the stairs, let alone put together."
Smiling, he could do that, "have you bought them yet?"
"No, I still need a couple hundred dollars," Betty admitted, "I should have it by the end of winter break."
"Are they holding the pieces for you?"
"No, but they are the most popular selections."
"So, they always have them?"
"Yes."
"Let me know before you go to buy them and I will come out and help you."
Betty swallowed hard, FP shouldn't be doing this, "thank you," she whispered.
FP heard the pain in her voice, "anything for you Betty, you know that."
Hearing her nod, "good night, try to sleep."
"Good night, FP."
Jughead stood at the door and listened to at least his Dad's part of the conversation, he was talking to Betty.
"You were talking to Betty?" he hesitated.
FP spun around and stared at Jughead, "what did you hear?"
"Why were you talking to Betty?" Jughead snapped stepping out onto the deck.
"She needs some help getting things back to her new apartment."
"They don't have movers in Connecticut?"
"Boy," FP warned.
"Don't boy me," Jughead yelled, "why won't she talk to me?" he questioned, crying as he slid down the door.
Sitting down beside his son, "Because she is in the same pain you are," he answered.
"Then how do we fix it?"
Taking a deep breath, "Jug, I can't answer that for you," FP said, "I wish I had a solution that would make it easier for you both."
"Has she?"
"No, she still loves you."
Resting his head on his arms, Jughead finally cried.
FP put his arm around his son and pulled him close. He wanted to tell him, but he knew it wasn't his secret to tell.
Thanksgiving and winter break had come and gone. Betty swore she was getting bigger by the day, as was her appetite.
"I feel like him," she admitted to Susan during a lull, still struggling to say Jughead.
"Why's that?" Susan asked, trying to guide Betty to talking about him.
"He was/is always hungry," she started, "it didn't matter what was going on, if you offered him food, he would take it."
Throwing up her hands in surrender, Susan walked to clear a table, "I'm sorry, Susan," Betty apologized, "I know you want to know more about… Jughead," she forced.
Walking towards her, "you still love him," Susan said, "I understand that, but honey you have to talk about him, so that when this little guy gets here, you can tell him all about his dad."
Betty nodded, "I just…"
"Miss him?" a familiar male voice supplied.
Spinning around and losing her balance, FP caught Betty before she fell, "FP," she whispered hugging him close.
FP hugged Betty tight. She was definitely pregnant, but all bump.
Susan took a step back and took in the exchange, "Susan this is FP, Jughead's dad."
"Nice to meet you."
"You as well," FP said shaking her hand, "thank you giving Betty a place to live."
Susan smiled, "I couldn't not."
FP had been keeping an eye on the bills, especially those coming from Yale New Haven Hospital. Alice still didn't know.
"Ready to go pick up your pieces?"
"Yes," Betty clapped and then looked at Susan, "oh…"
"Betty go get your furniture," Susan laughed, "I can't wait to help you set up."
"Thank you, Susan."
Watching the duo walk out, Susan missed Sophie joining her, "I mean I don't understand Jughead's thing for the beanie, but damn, he is going to age well."
Shaking her head, "come on Susan, you have to admit that is one hot dad."
"He is attractive."
"And if Betty's little boy…"
"She'll love him even more if he looks like his dad and grandpa."
"Do you think?"
"I think she wants him to look like his dad, because then she can be close to him, again."
"Do you think she will tell him?"
"Someday."
"When it doesn't hurt anymore?"
"It's always going to hurt her, Sophie," Susan said, "he's missing this part and she's terrified he will reject her if she tells him."
"He wouldn't do that."
"Maybe not, but her hormones have her convinced that keeping this secret is important."
"FP," Betty started.
"I didn't tell him."
Wiping her eyes, "I can't…"
Reaching over and squeezing her shoulder, "I understand."
"What if he doesn't want him?" Betty questioned out loud.
"You two made him," FP answered quietly, "Jug will love him."
"And?"
"Betty."
"Please."
"He still loves you."
Picking out her furniture took less time since Betty already knew what pieces she wanted. Packing them in FP's truck, Betty couldn't stop thinking about Jughead. She missed him.
After all was said and done, FP sat down on the couch in Betty's apartment and looked around. He wasn't surprised she had found a home for her and her soon to be here son. He was impressed. After everything she had been through in high school, Betty had kept her head on her shoulders and was making a life for herself.
Sitting on her bed, Betty picked up her phone and unlocked it. Opening her texts, she tapped Jughead's name, she had kept their conversations, she read them when she got lonely.
I love you. She sent.
Locking her phone, she went out to the living room and found FP fast asleep on the couch.
Jughead sat in his dorm room and stared at his phone. He had a message from Betty. She still loved him.
Looking down at the contract in front of him. He had more motivation than ever to sign it and create something lasting. He was going to become a writer. And. He was going to get Betty Cooper back.
He had sent his manuscript to a New York publishing house. They loved it! They were going to publish his first book Darling Duo: The Case of The Humming Clock.
When they had asked about his name, he had decided to write under a pseudonym "Fred Mercer". Fred for Fred Jones, one of the best men he had ever known and Mercer, well he didn't have a reason for that.
As finals finished, Betty was bigger than ever and uncomfortable. Walking towards the table, she smiled at the customers, most who were staring at her bump.
Everyone wanted to know when she was due. Forest had been due 4 days ago. But no, he had decided he didn't want to come out, not yet anyway.
Stopping midway, Betty dropped the cups of coffee in her hands as a sharp pain rocked through her abdomen.
"Betty," Susan called rushing towards the young girl. The table she had been serving jumped to steady her.
Gripping Susan's arm, Betty bit her lip hard as another contraction came, "ah, god," she squealed.
Getting her to the floor, "Betty how long have you been in labor?"
Sheepishly, "since 8 this morning."
"Betty's it's 11!" Susan scolded.
"Elizabeth Cooper!" a voice rang from the front of the café.
Betty paled when she looked up and saw her mom, with FP grimacing behind her.
"Not now, mom," Betty snarled gripping Susan's hand.
Alice stood in her kitchen and stared at the bills laid out on the counter. Yale New Haven Hospital. Betty was pregnant. She was pregnant and she hadn't told her.
FP walked into the house and stopped. He could see the bills on the counter. Betty's bills from the hospital, "how long have you known?" Alice whispered turning to look at him, tears falling.
"Since she was 16 weeks," FP answered quietly, not moving.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Alice cried coming to stand in front of him.
FP reached forward and pulled Alice to him. Kissing her head, "she couldn't hear you say, 'I told you so'."
Alice cried harder into FP's shoulder. She had alienated her own daughter. Now she had missed seeing her be pregnant.
Tightening his arms, "She's due this month," he whispered.
"I want to see her."
"Okay."
Alice pulled back and looked up at FP Jones, "thank you," she said kissing his jaw, "thank you for being the person she needed."
Feeling a tear sneak down his cheek, FP looked down at Alice, "I love her too."
Betty had come to be a daughter to him. She was one of the most caring people he had ever met. And she had gotten him back into Jughead's life. Even if that birthday party hadn't gone as planned.
"I'm going to look for flights to Connecticut."
"Okay," FP stated in a daze.
"She'll only be upset for a bit," Alice noted looking at him.
"I'm not worried about that."
"Then what?"
"She hasn't told Jughead," FP said wiping his eyes with sleeve.
"FP."
"I don't want them to end up like we did."
"We found each other again," Alice said, cupping his cheeks, "they will too."
Kissing her head softly, FP walked upstairs and changed.
"I found a flight tomorrow morning," Alice said standing in the doorway to the bedroom.
FP nodded, "FP."
He looked up at her and she saw the tears in his eyes, "why didn't you tell me about Charles in high school?" he asked quietly.
Alice covered her mouth with her hand, "I was scared."
"Of me?" he questioned; the anger evident in his voice.
"Not of you," she continued sitting down beside him, "of what would happen."
"Betty's scared," FP explained, "she's thinks Jughead will reject the baby."
Alice suppressed a laugh, "she really is just like me."
Walking towards her daughter and kneeling, Alice pulled Betty close and kissed her head. Her baby was having a baby.
Wrapped an arm around her mom; meaning it to be gentle, but her contractions had another plans.
"Betty, we need to get you to a hospital, now," Susan said standing up, "hello."
"We'll have time for introductions at the hospital," Alice agreed.
FP had already called an ambulance, "don't worry about anything," he said as they loaded Betty in the back.
"Ride with me?" Susan said, since Alice was in the ambulance with Betty.
"Thank you."
Sophie met them at the hospital and was already crying, "you're going to have a baby."
"Why are you crying?" Betty asked looking at her friend, "I'm the one over here dying."
Laughing, "you're not dying."
Betty smiled, "no, but I can't wait either."
Dr. Goodwill came into the room, "alright Betty, let's see how far along you are."
Lifting her legs into the stirrups, "okay, you're at 6 centimeters. 2 more to go before we can have you push."
"Okay," Betty squeezed out through another contraction.
"You're doing great."
6 hours later, Betty was holding an inky hair baby whose eyes matched his dads.
"Forsyth Pendleton Jones the IV," she whispered kissing his head, "I love you."
Sorry for all the emotions. Let me know what you think!
