The next morning, Jughead rises feeling completely drained, both emotionally and physically. After his father had finished scolding him, he'd gone straight to bed, knowing that Finley would be up within the hour for a bottle. Between getting up with Finley multiple times in the night, the restless sleep he'd gotten otherwise, and the disaster of a morning he'd had trying to get ready for school while consoling a fussy newborn, he just knew this would be one hell of a day.
"Betty, Jughead is here," Alice calls as Jughead walks through the front door with Finley in hand.
No sooner than the words are out of her mouth does Betty come hurrying down the stairs, a look of concern tugging at her brow.
"We have to go, like now," Betty says urgently, as she pulls on her fur lined boots.
"Elizabeth," Alice scolds as she carefully takes Finley from Jughead's arms.
"I'm sorry," she says, "I just have to get the school paper printed off this morning. It was supposed to print yesterday, but the snow, and I haven't even finished editing-" Cutting herself off, she takes a steadying breath and takes a moment to compose herself. "Sorry," she says again.
"It's fine Betty," Jughead shakes his head, "Sorry I'm late."
"No, god no," she says ashamedly, "I can't imagine your mornings are easy. I'm just freaking out. I tend to do that."
Jughead gives a nod in understanding, "We should probably get going then, huh?"
Betty nods, a small grin touching the corner of her lips.
"Bye mom," she calls in the direction of the living room before slipping out the door with Jughead at her heels.
The ride to school is much smoother than the previous morning, granted the roads are still a little slick, but manageable at least. Betty is quiet this morning, her brow knitted together as she goes over her to do list in her head. Jughead is almost grateful for her silence, having his own jumbled thoughts to mull over, but a part of him craves to hear her voice. Since last night he's been hung up on one particular thing his father had said.
What if it doesn't work out?
It's been eating at him all morning and the more he thinks about it, the less confidence he has in pursuing anything with the beautiful blonde beside him. No matter how willing to accept him she may be, he still has a child, and they're still just seventeen.
"So how bad did your dad chew you out," Betty questions as he puts the truck in park.
"Bad," he winces, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Betty remains interested and he realizes immediately that she was looking for more.
"Uhm," he clears his throat, "do you think maybe we could talk later?"
"Yea," she nods. "Yea of course. I have to deal with the paper anyways."
"Do you want help," he offers quietly.
Betty cocks a brow with intrigue, "do you write?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he challenges before getting out of the truck, rounding it to open her door for her.
"You do," she taunts as she hops down from the truck. Jughead catches her by her elbow when her feet hit the patch of ice beneath her and she proceeds to blush as she steadies herself on her feet.
"So do you want help or not," he questions playfully, "it's a limited time offer."
"Ooh, limited time you say," she teases, holding the heavy school door open with her foot for him to enter first.
Jughead only rolls his eyes before being dragged down the hall by his wrist. The halls look much the way they had yesterday, a few scattered students here and there, but they're still a little early to school.
Near the end of the main hallway, Betty comes to an abrupt halt in front of a closed door. She quickly plucks a set of keys from her backpack and unlocks it, dragging him inside and relocking it behind them.
"Are you planning on holding me hostage," Jughead jokes, setting his bag down on the worn in couch by the door.
"If that's what it takes to get this paper edited and printed in the next twenty minutes, then absolutely," she smirks, immediately sitting down in front of a dinosaur of a computer and starting it up.
"So what do you want me to do," he questions idly from the across the desk.
"Oh, nothing," she shrugs, "there's only one computer with the software to print it. You're just moral support."
"Moral support," he laughs, "let me at least do something."
"Ok fine," she sighs, "If you can edit this last article, I can get the printer going."
"That I can do," he nods before taking her seat as she gets up.
As Jughead reads through the article he's quickly impressed with the way its worded. She's managed to argue that the food served in the cafeteria may as well be dog shit in such a manner that it almost comes off as complementary. It goes on to suggest that the cost of whole foods in comparison would be mere pennies to the annual football budget.
"Hey Betts," Jughead calls over his shoulder, holding back a snicker.
"Yea," she replies, coming up behind him to glance at the article on screen.
"Will you marry me?"
"What," she laughs, leaning back to give him a quizzical look.
"This article," he points at the screen, "better food and less football? I think you're my dream girl."
"Oh shut up," she laughs, rolling her eyes. The smirk that takes over his face has her near melting before he returns his attention to the task at hand.
With five minutes to spare, the first of today's issue of the Blue and Gold is hot off the press. With nothing left to do, Jughead watches as Betty waits impatiently, tapping her fingers on her forearm, for the printer to finish.
"You mind if I go out to my locker," Jughead questions, not willing to leave her if there's more he could do to help.
"Yea, go," she nods, smiling softly, "I'm good here. Thank you so much for your help."
"Any time," he smiles before ducking out into the hall.
The twenty three minutes Jughead had spent in the Blue and Gold office with Betty this morning, turned out to be the only good thing about his day. In first period, he had the displeasure of meeting one Reggie Mantle, a loud mouthed football player with no respect for women. The two of them had nearly gotten into a fist fight over a rude comment he'd made to a classmate, which brought his next woe of the day. Ethel Mugs, a quiet, but kind enough girl he'd met briefly on Monday proceeded to follow him around like a lost puppy and he was beginning to regret sticking up for her. He's been pursued by girls before, but none like this. It border lined on obsession by third period, and by lunch, he was ready to come unglued.
"Betty," he whisper yells as he ducks into the student lounge where he'd spotted her from his locker.
"Jug-"
"Shh," he scolds, cupping his hand over her mouth. "Save me."
"From what," she giggles as she pries his hand from her mouth.
"Ethel," he mutters, glancing over his shoulder into the hall.
"Ethel," she questions, "why do you need saving from Ethel of all people."
"She's after me Betty," he tells her with urgency, earning only a raise of her brow. "Reggie said something crude and I called him out and now she's following me around and oh god, she's coming-"
Quite ridiculously, he moves to hide behind Betty, his 6'2" frame not at all concealed by her short stature and Betty can't help but find it amusing. Thinking fast, Betty turns to face him, tugging him down by the neck to plant a hard kiss to his lips. Stunned by the initial contact his hands freeze at her sides before he melts into it, pulling her closer by the back of her head as her hands slip into his back pockets. Tugging at his lower lip with her teeth, she releases him with a smirk, tucking herself under his arm as she turns to face a shell shocked Ethel in the doorway.
"Hey Ethel," she says with such sweet sincerity there's no way anyone could tell she's anything but. "How'd you guys make out with all the snow? We were shoveling for hours."
"Oh, uhm-" Ethel shakes her head, composing herself of her disappointment. "Us too," she nods.
"Oh, have you met Jughead," Betty questions, bringing her hand to rest at the center of his chest.
"Uh, yea," she nods, her eyes cast down toward her feet, "I have. I uhm, need to go to my locker. Nice seeing you Betty."
Once Ethel is out of sight, Jughead scoops Betty up off the floor in a tight bear hug, nuzzling his nose playfully into her neck. Her arms and legs flail as she laughs, pleading with him to put her down.
"God, I could kiss you right now," he praises, squishing her face in his large hands.
"You just did," she laughs, earning a wet smooch to her forehead.
"Juggy," she whines, wiping his slobber with the sleeve of her sweater.
"What is going on in here," Veronica beams with intrigue as she enters the lounge.
Betty and Jughead freeze in place, glancing between each other as the raven haired girl quips a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
"B," she questions, "do you know this boy?"
"Uh, yea," she nods, glancing apologetically to Jughead, "This is Jughead. Jug this is-"
"Veronica Lodge," she grins, offering her hand and awaiting an expected shake.
Jughead takes her hand, shooting Betty a quizzical glance.
"So," Veronica starts, dropping gracefully to the couch, "how do you two know each other."
"He's FP's son," Betty says, and if he's not mistaken, Jughead could swear she sounds almost ashamed.
"Ah, yes," Veronica nods, her eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Well, I'll see you at practice. Bye Bettykins. Oh, and it was such a pleasure to meet you Jug-head."
Just the dismissive tone of her voice had been enough to tick him off, but the look of defeat on Betty's face has him more than pissed.
"What the fuck was that," he scoffs as he takes a seat beside her on the couch.
"Veronica Lodge," she says with disgust. "Heir to the Lodge fortune and a grade A bitch. We're sort of, frenemies, I guess," she shrugs.
"Frenemies," he scoffs, "that girl looked like she wanted to eat you for lunch."
Betty snorts an unexpected laugh through her nose and tries to glare at him, but ultimately gives in to her grin.
"You remember when I told you about my best friend," she asks cautiously.
"Yea, the idiot that lives next door," he nods.
Betty nods, "Since Veronica moved to town a few months ago, she's been after him and since we're best friends, she tried to use me to get close to him. She realized Archie wouldn't go for her if it bothered me and we've had this weird push and pull ever since."
Jughead nods thoughtfully, resting his hand to his chin, "And now?"
"I dont know," she shrugs. "I haven't talked to Archie since, well you know."
Unwilling to even hear another word about this stupid Archie guy, Jughead leaves it at that. She basically just confirmed she still has feelings for Archie and he has no idea where that leaves him.
The rest of the day goes much the same as the first half. Fourth period brings piles of makeup work and almost an entire book to catch up on for fifth. At this point, Jughead has no idea how he is going to manage school while taking care of Fin and a feeling of utter defeat has begun to weigh on his confidence.
After school, Betty went straight to vixen practice. Jughead hung around, high on the bleachers in the gymnasium to catch up on some of the makeup work he'd been slammed with earlier in the day. Truthfully, he'd just wanted to watch Betty dance around in her little short shorts. After the roller coaster of a day he had, he reasoned with himself that he deserved to at least witness that, but he couldn't even enjoy it with the uncertainty of her feelings for him. He managed to get absolutely zero work done and instead dug himself a trench filled with endless questions and despair. His father had been worried that he took advantage of her kindness, but was it she who took advantage of him? He can't help but wonder if she used him to fill whatever void Archie had left when he'd turned her down.
Upon their arrival to Betty's house, Jughead is near ready to break. Betty hadn't uttered a word the entire way home and he's desperate to know what's going on in her head. As if this entire day hasn't been bad enough, one shockingly red headed Archie Andrews awaits them at the door.
"Can we talk," Archie questions Betty, glancing only briefly at Jughead behind her.
Betty looks over her shoulder at Jughead, who gives a hesitant nod in approval before agreeing to Archie's request. Jughead immediately goes inside, leaving them to talk. He doubts they'll stand outside in the cold and his stomach knots at the thought of her alone with another guy.
She's not yours, he reminds himself internally before meeting Alice in the living room.
"Hey Jug," Alice greets softly as he enters the room, Fin cradled in her arms as she rocks him back and forth. "Finley has been a little fussy today, and his nose sounds kind of stuffy. He may be coming down with a cold."
"He's sick," Jughead worries, taking him from her arms to cradle him against his chest.
"I'm sure it's just a cold," Alice assures him, "It's pretty common this time of year."
"What do I do," he questions, glancing nervously from Alice to Finley and back again.
"Just keep his nose clean and be prepared for him to be a little crankier than usual," she tells him easily. Jughead still looks panicked and she can't help but chuckle. "He's going to be fine Jughead."
Jughead nods, his brow furrowing as he listens to the crackling sound of Finley's short breaths through the excess mucus in his tiny little nose.
"Should I stay home with him tomorrow," he wonders aloud.
"I don't think that's necessary," she shrugs.
The loud slam of the front door sounds through the house, startling Finley, who proceeds to wail. Jughead quickly soothes him, shushing him softly as he cradles him more securely into his chest.
"Oh god," Betty says in horror, her eyes pooling with tears. "I'm so sorry Jughead. I- I didn't mean to-" shaking her head as tears begin to roll down her cheeks, she darts up the stairs, leaving both Alice and Jughead confused in the living room.
Alice takes quick notice of Jughead's obvious confliction as he glances periodically up the stairs. She can see the concern on his face, clear as day.
"Go talk to her," Alice tells him, smiling gently as she takes Finley into her arms.
Jughead only nods in gratitude before treading lightly up the stairs.
"Betty," he calls softly as he cautiously pushes open her bedroom door. His heart feels heavy in his chest as he finds her much the same as he had the night they'd met. This time, she's curled up on her bed, sobbing silently into her pillow and he can't stand the sight of her so hurt. Carefully, he crawls onto her bed, situating himself on his side and hauls her against him with an arm around her waist. Betty immediately rolls to face him, burying her face his chest as her shoulders shake with her cries.
"I'm so sorry Jug," she cries, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I didn't mean to make him cry. I feel like such a terrible person."
"Betty," he says softly. "Finley is fine and I know you're not crying about that. Tell me what happened."
"He tried to kiss me," she groans into his chest.
"Isn't that what you wanted," he asks, careful to keep his tone indifferent.
Betty shrugs before leaning back to wipe her tears on her sleeve. Jughead brings a careful hand to her cheek and gently thumbs away the tears collected at her lash line.
"He tried to kiss me because Veronica turned him down," she clarifies.
"I don't follow," he says, his brow settling in confusion. "I thought Veronica wanted to date him?"
Betty shakes her head, "She just wanted to sleep with him apparently," she shrugs, "I guess they hooked up yesterday and she just wrote him off after."
"And now he wants you," Jughead scoffs.
"What's wrong with me," she sniffles, her big green eyes shiny with fresh tears. "Why am I not good enough to be anyone's first choice?"
"You're my first choice," he tells her shyly. "My only choice."
As a single tear falls from her eye, a sad smile touches her lips.
"You're so much more than a last resort Betty," he assures her, his thumb rubbing gently over her cheek.
In an instant, her lips are on his with urgency. She kisses him hard, needing to feel something other than the crushing rejection in her chest. She swiftly rolls him over, settling on top of him as she assaults his mouth with her tongue. Jughead kisses her back, rocking her hips with his hands, desperate to feel her against him. With a particularly sweet grind of her middle over his swelling erection, he groans into her mouth and immediately pulls away.
"Betty stop," he pleads, stilling her hips with his hands.
"I want you Juggy," she whines, trying but failing to grind against him with the tight grip he has on her hips.
"We can't do this," he tells her firmly, "not like this."
With a deep set scowl, Betty rolls off of him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Get out."
"What," he questions in shock.
"I said get out Jughead," she near yells.
Hesitantly, he gets up from her bed, pausing at the door before making his exit. He tries to tell himself she's just hurt and confused, but it doesn't ease the hollowing pit in his stomach. Alice doesn't ask questions when he returns to the living room, certainly portraying an aura of hurt and rejection. She wordlessly helps him get Finley into his car seat and tells him she'll see him in the morning before he walks out the door.
The next morning, Jughead wakes even more exhausted than he had been yesterday. Finley was up at all hours of the night, a snotty coughing mess as he wailed endlessly. FP had even gotten up with him a few times, helping him use the nasal aspirator to clear poor little Fin's airway.
"Rough night," Alice questions, noticing the dark circles under his eyes as he comes into the living room with Finley.
"He cried all night," he sighs, handing a sleeping Fin over to Alice's waiting arms.
"There's coffee," she nods towards the kitchen, leading the way as Jughead follows lazily behind.
Taking a mug from the neat display beside the coffee pot, Jughead fills it to the top and takes a large gulp.
"You want to tell me what happened yesterday," Alice asks softly, giving him an encouraging glance.
Jughead shrugs, "I don't even know. She was upset about Archie and kissed me." He pauses to take in Alice's reaction, but she remains calm and attentive. "It just didn't feel right," he shrugs. "I'm pretty sure she hates me now."
"She doesn't hate you," she assures him with a fond smile. "You did the right thing. Give her some time to gather her thoughts."
Jughead only nods with the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
Mere seconds later, Betty stops dead in her tracks at the sight of Jughead leaned back against the counter, a mug of coffee cradled in his hands as Alice rocks Finley beside him.
"Are you ready to go," Alice asks her in a neutral tone.
"I'm going to walk," she says, her face settling into something of discontent as she plucks an apple from the fruit bowl and turns on her heels.
"Don't be ridiculous Elizabeth," Alice scolds. "You might as well let Jughead drive you, he's already here."
"Fine," she sighs, her shoulders slumping as she walks away to get her shoes on.
With a look of despair in Alice's direction, Jughead makes his way out the door.
Betty spends the entire ride to school staring out the window and just flat out ignoring him. Upon their arrival to school, she gets out if the truck before he's even killed the engine and storms off inside. Jughead takes the hint and gives her the space she's so clearly asking for. He spends the entire day laying low, just focusing on his school work and trying desperately not to read too much into her anger. He knows she's just hurting right now and even Alice had agreed he'd made the right decision yesterday, but he can't shake the ache of worry in his chest.
By lunch time, Jughead has had about enough of being ignored and to make matters worse, Ethel has again been following him around. He finds it pathetic and he's highly irritated when she has the audacity to sit beside him in the lunch room. Can't she tell he just wants to be left alone?
"Hi Jughead," Ethel says sweetly, inching just slightly closer to him on the bench.
"Hi Ethel," he grits, trying to keep a level head.
"You look a little tense," she comments, "want to talk about it?"
With the drop of her hand to his thigh, Jughead has lost the last of his marbles.
"Can you not," he grits, standing abruptly from the table. "Christ, it's no wonder Reggie gives you shit all time. I'm not fucking interested, ok."
Ethel leans back as if she's been slapped, tears welling in her eyes as she glances around the lunch room. All eyes are on her as she bolts out of the cafeteria doors and Jughead can already hear the snickers of what an asshole he is.
"Fuck," he scolds himself, dropping his head in his hands as he rests his elbows back down to the table.
"That was quite the show big boy," a snidely impressed voice says from behind him.
"Veronica," Jughead groans, lifting his head to drive a glare into her smirking face. "What do you want?"
"Me," she coos as she takes a seat far too close for his liking. Her fingers walk along his inner thigh, his jaw clenching as she runs her index finger along the crease of his groin. "I'd like to make your day better," she breathes against his ear.
At that precise moment, Betty comes into the lunch room, freezing in place as she takes in the sight before her. Jughead watches as her heart breaks before his eyes and she bolts into the hall.
"Fuck," he grits, shrugging Veronica off roughly. "You're a real bitch," he clips, earning only a shrug in dismissal from the raven haired heiress before running off to find Betty.
The first place Jughead looks is the Blue and Gold room. The door is locked, of course, but he's sure she's inside.
"Betty," he calls against the closed door. "Betty, I know you're in there. Please just talk to me."
There's no reply, but the click of the lock can be heard before the door creaks open just a crack. He's met with only half of Betty's scowling face, but it will have to do.
"Please talk to me," he pleads softly. "I know what you saw looked bad, but I swear nothing happened."
Betty carefully mulls over his words before opening the door and hesitantly waiving him inside. Jughead steps cautiously into the room, staying quiet as she relocks the door.
"Bett-"
He's cut off by her mouth on his, pulling her with him as he stumbles back against the door.
"Betty," he breathes between kisses. With his hands firm on her shoulders he urges her back. "Betty, what is going on with you?"
"Just kiss me," she pleads, fighting against him to reach his lips.
"Betty, stop it," he says firmly. "I don't know what's gotten into you but I'm not going to be used."
A look of shame comes over her, her face dropping into her hands. "I'm sorry," she mutters, shaking her head from side to side.
"Please just talk to me," he pleads again, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
"Do you like Veronica," she asks with so much worry it damn near kills him.
"Of course not," he scoffs.
"Then what were you doing with her?"
"Nothing," he assures her with urgency.
"It didn't look like nothing," she argues, "it looked like she had her hand down your pants and you weren't telling her off."
"She didn't- I mean, she tried, but-" Jughead groans in frustration. "Betty, I don't even have time for girls, and certainly not an entitled bitch like Veronica."
Apparently that was not at all what she wanted to hear when she proceeds to drive a glare so unsettling it has him swallowing a dry lump in his throat.
"You don't have time for girls," she scoffs. "Oh but you had plenty of time to fuck me into the couch the other night."
Jughead lets a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I shouldn't have done that."
"Maybe you shouldn't have," she agrees, hurt flickering across her features.
"What do you want from me," he groans in frustration.
"I don't know," she sighs, slumping down onto the couch by the door.
"Betty," he sighs, settling beside her, "I have a baby to take care of. I can't just be your rebound guy."
"You're not," she assures him in surprise.
"How can you even say that," he scoffs. "You throw yourself at me every time something goes wrong with Archie and its getting really fucking hard to stop you."
"Then don't," she murmurs, cautiously climbing into his lap.
Jughead grips her hips willingly, but his brow is hesitant as she settles over him.
"Betty, I can't," he breathes, his eyes rolling back with the rock of her hips against him.
"Can't or won't," she whispers against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Betty, please. Not here," he groans, though he doesn't fight her when she goes for the button on his jeans. He watches with hesitation as she pulls him free from the denim prison between them and bites back a moan with the wrap of her fingers around his swollen shaft.
"I don't want Archie anymore Jug," she assures him, her voice heavy with arousal, "I want you."
"Oh god, Betts," he groans with the stroke of her hand, "faster."
Obediently, she grants his request, stroking him quickly with a firm hand. His hips buck into her downward strokes, quiet whimpers rolling off his tongue as his fingertips dig into her jean clad thighs.
"Fuck, I'm gonna cum," he warns, his eyes squeezing shut with the tightening of his groin.
"Cum for me Juggy," she coos, quickening her pace just enough to send him over the edge. He fights to bite back the deep groan rising in his chest as he spills hot and white over her knuckles.
Betty gets up quickly, leaving him to catch his breath as she pulls a few tissues from the box on her desk. She hands him a couple before wiping her hands clean and watches him curiously as he cleans himself up.
"Betty," he mutters, zipping his jeans as he rises from the couch, "This can't happen again."
Betty responds with a nod in understanding as he makes his way to the door.
"I'm staying late to get help with some work," he starts, his hand on the doorknob. "I'll take you home after practice."
Betty again replies with a nod, a pang of guilt knotting her stomach as the door closes behind him.
Later that evening, Alice insists that Jughead stay for dinner, knowing he's in for a long night with Finley and will surely neglect to feed himself. Dinner is slightly awkward with Betty and Jughead uncertain where they stand with one another, but Alice doesn't get herself involved. Instead, she makes quick conversation, going over Finley's accomplishments for the day. He'd successfully soiled three outfits with drool and snot, had one heck of a dirty diaper, and managed to lift his head during tummy time. Jughead was grateful for the distraction, but with the end of dinner comes the goodbye he'd been dreading since they arrived.
"Jug," Betty calls softly from behind as he's strapping Fin into his car seat.
"Can we talk tomorrow," Jughead sighs.
Betty nods, "after school?"
Jughead shakes his head, "Finley has a doctor's appointment at 3:30, so I have to leave when we get back, but-" he clears his throat, coming up to stand from his knees with Finley's car seat nestled in the crook of his elbow. "Dad's going out tomorrow night, so if you want to come over-"
"Of course," she nods, an almost smile touching her lips.
Jughead nods thoughtfully, "I'll see you tomorrow."
The next day at school seems to drag on forever. Finley had slept better last night than the previous one, but Jughead is feeling the emotional exhaustion of his relationship with Betty. He's done a lot of thinking since yesterday and he's come to the conclusion that maybe he'd be smarter to forget about her all together. Hell, he knows he'd be smarter to forget about her. It would be easier for everyone, but something about her has a hold on him like no other. He's never felt so immediately attached to anyone and he can't imagine a life without her anymore. He doesn't care that they know so little about each other, or that she might not even want to take on the role of mother to his child, he just knows that he's never felt this way before and he can't let her go without even trying.
Jughead arrives with Betty to her house promptly after school. Alice helps him collect Finley's things and he's on his way out the door with only a minute to spare.
The pediatric office at Riverdale General isn't far from the Cooper's but he was asked to arrive early to fill out paperwork. Sitting in the waiting room, Finley in his car seat at his feet, he's horribly anxious. He feels as though he's walking into a judgment zone where he will be reprimanded for his lack of skills in parenting and scolded for being too young. He wonders if teen mothers feel the same scrutiny and he can't shake the feeling that as a male, he won't be presented with niceties as a female would be for her mistake.
"Finley Jones," a nurse calls as she comes through the door to the waiting room.
Swallowing down his nerves, Jughead throws Finley's diaper bag over his shoulder and follows the nurse through the doors with his son in tow. He watches nervously as Finley is weighed and measured before they are brought into a room.
"Everything looks great Forsythe," smiles the doctor after completing her evaluation of Finley's health. "He's growing steadily and he's very strong. You should be proud of yourself."
Jughead gives a shy nod in thanks before slipping Finley's onesie back over his head.
"Since this is Finley's one month appointment, he is due for a few vaccines today," she adds as she collects her clipboard. "The nurse will be in to administer those and I will see you in a month."
"Thank you," Jughead says politely as she closes the door behind her.
Not long after the doctor steps out, does the nurse from earlier come back into the room. She instructs him to hold Finley firmly on his chest, using his forearm to keep his little leg still. Jughead keeps him calm with the bottle he'd brought just in case as the nurse prepares the needles. He's so serene, sucking happily at his snack, his little pink lips shiny with formula. When the nurse is ready, she reminds him to still his leg firmly and with a countdown of three, sticks Finley's poor little thigh with the needles in one go.
Jughead had not at all been prepared for the hot prickle of horrified rage and guilt that washes over him the moment Finley lets out an agonizing scream, his mouthful of formula dribbling down his chin as he cries in pain. He barely resists the instinct to punch the sweet nurse who is tenderly putting a slight pressure on the sore spot of his son's leg and quickly distracts Finley with the reminder of his forgotten bottle touched to his lips. Finley finds immediate comfort in suckling his warm milk, letting out slight quivers of breath as he calms. Jughead takes a deep breath, willing back the dampness in his eyes as he watches his son ease back into a comfortable rhythm.
"I know it's awful," the nurse starts quietly, "and I'm not going to lie and say it will be easier next time, but you did great."
Her smile is so sincere that Jughead actually feels better about it and he's assured that Finley has already forgotten the whole thing as he drifts off to sleep in his arms.
Back at the Cooper's, Betty runs outside the moment he pulls in the driveway, having been expecting his arrival. She hops into the passenger's side quickly and closes the heavy door as quietly as possible, so as not to wake Fin.
"Hey," she says softly, reaching to Finley in the middle of the old bench seat to tuck his blanket more snugly with the rush of cold air she'd let inside the cab.
"Hey," he greets in return before backing out of the driveway.
"You ok," she questions, noticing he looks much tenser than he had earlier.
Jughead nods, "Fin had to get shots. It was awful."
"I'm sorry," she offers, reaching across Finley's car seat to touch his shoulder.
"It's alright," he grins, patting her hand at his shoulder. "Just wasn't expecting it to be so hard."
"Well, it's over now," she smiles, "and Finny doesn't look too upset."
Jughead offers a smile in response, happy to have her assurance. Maybe next time he'll ask her to go with him.
When they arrive at Sunnyside trailer park, FP is just getting ready to head out for the night.
"Betty," FP says in surprise, shooting a subtle glare in Jughead's direction as they come through the front door.
"Hi FP," Betty greets cheerfully. "What are you all dolled up for," she teases, earning a chuckle from FP as he finishes cuffing the sleeves of his button down.
"One of the guys at work is getting married tomorrow, so we're heading out for his last hurrah," he grins.
"Sounds fun," she smiles as she slips off her boots at the door.
"Hey Betts," Jughead calls as he's lifting Finley out if his car seat. "Would you mind laying Fin down for me? His crib is in my room at the end of the hall."
"Uh, yea, sure," Betty nods, glancing knowingly between the two men in the room as she takes Finley from Jughead.
FP crosses his arms over his chest, a deep scowl settling across his brow. With the creak of Jughead's bedroom door being opened, FP comes nearer, his scowl unwavering.
"Alice forbidding you from screwing her daughter under her roof was not an invitation to do it here," he clips under his breath.
"She's just here to talk," Jughead argues.
"She better be," he says sternly, giving a doubtful squint of his eyes.
Before Jughead has a chance to say anything further, Betty comes back into the kitchen.
"Well," FP says cheerily, "I'm out of here. There's a couple of pizzas in the freezer if you get hungry."
Jughead only nods, Betty calling out a chipper goodbye from beside him as FP heads out the door.
"Fin go down ok," Jughead asks as he turns to the fridge.
Betty nods, "out like a light."
"You want a soda or something," he questions from behind the open refrigerator door.
"Water's fine," she says with a shrug.
With a can of cola in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, Jughead nods his head for Betty to follow him to the couch. He takes a seat near the arm of the couch and sets their drinks down on the coffee table as Betty settles on the middle cushion. A strange awkwardness lingers between them, making the silence of the house almost deafening. The crack of Jughead's cola can being opened reverberates through the room like rolling thunder, urging them both to freeze and listen for Finley being disturbed awake. When the anticipated cry doesn't come, Jughead takes a sip from his drink and replaces it on the coffee table before settling back against the couch. Betty watches him carefully, contemplating if she should take a drink from her water, but ultimately being distracted by the uncomfortable way he rubs his temple with his fingertips, his head leaned to the side with his elbow rested on the arm of the couch.
A knock at the door draws their attention and Jughead gets up quickly to answer it. Betty remains in her spot on the couch, and finally goes for a sip off her water as Jughead speaks quietly to whoever is at the door. As she replaces the cover of her water, a dark haired guy in a leather jacket steps into the kitchen.
"Sweet Pea," Betty calls out in surprise.
"Hey Blondie," he smirks.
"You two know each other," Jughead cuts in as he drops back down onto the couch.
Betty can feel the scrutiny under Jughead's gaze, tightening the knot in her gut with each passing second.
"Uh, yea," Sweet Pea nods, clearing his throat, "We dated for a bit."
"You dated," Jughead questions out loud before turning to Betty in shock. "You dated Sweet Pea?"
"Uhm-" she shifts awkwardly in her seat, "Only for like a month."
"It was freshman year Jug. Calm down," Sweet Pea says with a forced chuckle as he rakes back his hair.
"I am calm," Jughead says unconvincingly.
"Jug," Betty starts, clamming up when his glare shifts to her.
"Did you fuck him," he questions through his teeth.
"I-" She takes a frantic glance at Sweet Pea who subtly shakes his head in warning of her not to say anything.
"Oh my god, you did," he groans, dropping his head back against the couch and swipes his hands over his face.
"Would you chill out," Pea clips. "You didn't even know her and I'm sure it was less than spectacular."
"Pea-"
"Nah princess," he cuts her off with a raise of his hand, "We were fourteen. Southside shut down for the year and I got transferred to Riverdale. We hung out a few times and mutually decided to rid ourselves of our v-cards. I lasted maybe a minute and we decided to just be friends the next day. You got nothing to be threatened over."
"I'm not threatened," Jughead argues, his eyes flicking over to Betty before continuing to glare at Sweet Pea in the arm chair.
"The fuck you aren't," Pea laughs, "it's hot dog all over again."
"He was my dog," Jughead reminds him, a hint of a smirk quivering at the edge of his down turned lips.
"I fed him one time," Sweet Pea rolls his eyes, "not my fault he liked me better."
"Fuck you," Jughead laughs.
"We good," Pea asks suggestively.
Jughead nods, ducking his head to simultaneously rub at his neck and glance an apology in Betty's direction.
"Right, well," Pea starts, slapping his hands on the arms of his chair, "I came to see my nephew. He gonna be awake any time soon?"
"Nephew," Betty chimes in, questioning their relation.
Jughead shakes his head, swallowing his sip of cola. "He's just an entitled ass and declared himself Uncle Pea," he laughs before turning to Pea. "He'll probably be up in a half hour or so if you want to hang out."
"You don't mind," Sweet Pea asks hesitantly.
"I just said you could-"
"I'm not talking to you dickhead," Pea scolds playfully, "I think your girl's had enough awkwardness for one night."
"We're not-"
"I don't mind," Betty cuts in, earning a confused glance from Jughead. "I'll go put those pizzas in," she announces, then quickly heads out into the kitchen.
As the oven preheats, Betty stays in the kitchen, leaned back against the counter, digging her fingers beneath it. Of all the people she could have lost her virginity to, it had to be the one person that Jughead knows. He just had to show up, tonight of all nights. They're supposed to be talking and figuring out what the hell they're doing with each other and instead Jughead's having a pissing match over something that happened before they ever even met.
The beep of the oven startles Betty from her thoughts and she returns to the task at hand. In the freezer she finds two pizzas, one pepperoni and one cheese. She has no idea what either boy likes, but knowing how much they both eat, she grabs them both. As she's placing them on the rack in the oven, Jughead walks by and shuts himself in the bathroom without a word.
"Jesus christ," Betty whisper yells, nearly nose to nose with Sweet Pea as she turns away from the oven.
"Shit, sorry," he laughs.
"You didn't have to do that," she says quietly, referring to his earlier explanation of their relationship.
"I did," he nods, "Jug's a territorial guy, but I can't say I blame him."
"You always were sweet," she teases with the light blush on his cheeks.
"Just don't go telling anybody," he jokes. He takes a quick glance towards the closed bathroom door. "He's scared," he tells her, barely above a whisper.
"Why," Betty wonders almost silently.
"He doesn't want Fin to get attached and he thinks you're using him to get over red."
"He told you that?"
With the flush of the toilet Sweet Pea gives a quick nod and retreats to the living room.
Jughead emerges from the bathroom, looking as though he may have washed his face, perhaps in attempt to calm down. No sooner than his eyes meet Betty's, his stormy blues filled with hesitancy, does Finley cry out from the next room. With a heavy sigh, he disappears into the hallway.
Upon Jughead's return with Finley in hand, he goes straight to the living room. Betty follows and sits on the couch opposite Jughead.
"You gonna let me hold him or what," Sweet Pea asks expectantly.
"Do you even know how to hold a baby," Jughead scoffs, a smirk on his lips.
"Hey, I'll have you know I watch Toni's kid all by myself every Saturday," he defends.
"Shit, Toni has a kid," Jughead questions in surprise.
Sweet Pea nods, "Chuck Clayton's kid. His parents tried to pay her off to keep her mouth shut since their prestigious little shit can't bear fatherhood, but Toni don't take handouts from anyone. I help her out when she pulls a double at the Wyrm."
"Damn," Jughead shakes his head, "I always thought she'd be into girls," he laughs.
Sweet Pea laughs too, "Oh she likes the D, trust me."
"Ok, ew," Betty laughs, "I think the pizzas are done."
When Betty returns with three plates of pizza, Sweet Pea has shed his jacket, now adorning a cozy looking Finley tucked snuggly into the crook of his elbow. After spreading out their plates on the coffee table, she takes a seat on the center cushion this time, only to be disappointed when Jughead gets up.
"You look good with a baby," Betty teases as she bites into her slice of pizza.
Sweet Pea laughs, "Maybe in a few years. Xavier already calls me daddy."
"I didn't know you and Toni we're even together," she admits, feeling badly for not keeping in touch when Southside reopened.
"We just sort of fell into it," he shrugs.
Jughead returns with a bottle for Finley and hands it to Sweet Pea before sitting beside Betty on the couch. He immediately takes a plate from the coffee table and has finished off his two slices before Betty gets halfway through her first. As Jughead gets up for seconds, Sweet Pea leans forward, carefully balancing Finley's bottle under his chin to grab his own plate from the table.
"Do you want me to take him," Betty asks, setting her plate down in preparation.
"I got it," he grins, giving a show offish raise of his brows as he feeds Finley with one hand and eats with the other.
"I take it you've done this before," she laughs.
"Oh, yea," he nods proudly, "I might not actually be Xavier's dad but I've been there since the day he was born."
"How old is he," she asks curiously.
"He'll be three next month," he grins.
Jughead returns with two more slices of pizza and a small part of her wishes he hadn't come back. Not because she doesn't want him around, obviously, she's at his house for Christ sake. It's just that she's certain she missed an opportunity to ask Sweet Pea what it's like to raise someone else's child.
"Alright Fin," Sweet Pea says as he stretches his free arm over his head. "Uncle Pea's got a job to get to. You make sure your daddy's nice to our friend blondie over there."
With a smirk he hands Fin over to Jughead, earning a scowl for his remark. Betty continues to pick up the kitchen from dinner while Jughead walks Pea to the door.
"Just talk to her would ya," Sweet Pea says in a hushed tone to Jughead. "She's probably the most understanding person I've ever known. She'll hear you out."
Jughead nods in thanks, "See ya Pea."
With a quick waive and the rev of his motorcycle, he's off into the night, to a job both Betty and Jughead hope he gets out of someday.
It's nearly 7:30pm when everything is back in order. As Betty puts the last of the dishes away, Jughead disappears into the bathroom with Finley, leaving the door ajar. She hesitates with the sound of the tub filling before realizing he's running Finley a bath. Having never bathed an infant before, she contemplates just waiting in the living room, but she can't help thinking if he'd wanted to be alone he'd have closed the door. With a deep breath, she steps through the doorway, knocking gently on the open door.
"Hey," he says, almost sounding surprised. "You, uh-" he clears his throat, "I'll just be a few minutes."
"Can I help," she asks shyly.
"You want to- I mean, yea. You can help," he stammers.
Betty finally steps all the way inside the bathroom and kneels down beside him in front of the tub. Holding Finley's back against his chest, his little bum seated in his lap, Jughead pulls off his tiny striped socks. A grin spreads across Betty's face as Finley curls his toes, and fusses in disapproval with the removal of his warm jumper.
"He doesn't really like bath time," Jughead comments as Finley fusses further with the removal of his diaper.
In the tub, Jughead carefully places Fin on his back, his head cradled in the palm of his hand out of the water as he scoops handfuls of warm water and gently pours them over Finley's legs. His little legs kick wildly in the shallow water, his face scrunching in discontent, but Jughead continues to soothe him with the trickling of warm water over his skin. Betty watches as he drizzles small amounts of water onto the thin dark hair on his head and can't help but giggle at the faces he makes.
"He's so cute," she comments in awe, earning a proud smirk from Jughead.
"Think you would put soap on that cloth for me," he asks shyly. "I usually don't have help, but it's damn near impossible to do it one handed."
Betty smiles, picturing him struggling to keep Finley above water while maneuvering a slippery soap pump and wash cloth in one hand. She pumps soap onto the cloth and hands it to him, watching with intrigue as he washes Finley from head to toe. It's mildly terrifying, knowing that a slippery baby could easily get a face full of water, but she admires how easy Jughead makes it look.
With the pull of the drain, Betty grabs the little ducky towel from its hook and holds it open. Jughead places Fin against her chest and wraps him up snugly, nodding for her to head down the hall. Inside his room, he quickly pulls out a diaper and cotton footed pajamas for Finley. He gestures for Betty to lay Fin on his bed and she does just so, lingering at the edge of the bed as Jughead fastens his diaper.
"You can sit," he tells her, noticing her shifting uncomfortably from side to side.
Without a word, she sits at the very edge of his bed, uncertain how he feels about her being in his space.
"Betts," he starts, "I need to know what I am to you. If I'm just a place holder, would you at least tell me so I can keep Fin from getting hurt?"
"You're not a place holder," she assures him, sounding almost offended.
Jughead nods, lifting Finley from the bed to cradle him against his chest.
"Let me get him to sleep and we can talk more," he requests, slowly rocking with Fin.
Betty gives a curt nod and dismisses herself to the living room. As she waits for Jughead to return, she runs circles in her head, trying to anticipate how their conversation will go. Best case scenario, he realizes that she is completely attached to him and willing to do whatever it takes to be with him. Worst case scenario, he thinks she's totally crazy and wants nothing to do with her. How in just a few short weeks she has grown so fond of a near stranger is mind boggling, but she feels that she can't be without him.
"He asleep," Betty asks quietly as Jughead enters the living room.
Jughead only nods and sits down on the couch beside her.
"Betty," he starts, rubbing at the back of his neck, "I like you. A lot." He shakes his head. "More than a lot, and I'm afraid that if I let you in and you wind up not liking me as much, I'm not going to be the only one that gets hurt."
"Jug," she coos, resting her hand on his knee.
"Let me finish," he pleads softly, covering her small hand with his large one. "I need to know that if we do this, you and me, and Finley, that you're not going to change your mind after you've gotten over Archie."
"I was over Archie the moment you told me it was his loss," she tells him with one hundred percent certainty.
Jughead nods thoughtfully. "I just- Finley is everything to me Betts and if you're going to be with me, I need to know you've really thought about what that means. He's a real person with thoughts and feelings and he's going to see you as his mom. That's huge, and we still don't really even know each other."
"Jug," she starts gently, "I can't promise that I'm always going to know what to do when it comes to Finley, but I've never felt like this about anyone and I'm willing to do what I have to do prove to you this isn't temporary. I've had crushes. Archie was a crush. A stupid one built over ten years of friendship. This," she gestures between them, "This is something so much more. Honestly, it scares me and I totally understand if you think I'm insane-"
Her words are abruptly cut off by the urgent press of his lips to hers. She feels as though she's been knocked off her feet as his fingers thread into the hair at the back of her head, tugging her closer until she's in his lap. He kisses her hard, with a passion she'd never known possible and it warms her through to her core. Forcing himself back, he sucks in a sharp breath and rest his forehead roughly to hers, needing the pressure of her skin on his to feel grounded.
"I want this to work Betts," he breathes, his face strained with worry as he holds her close.
"Me too Juggy," she whispers, allowing her hands to trail over the tight planes of muscle beneath his shirt.
Grinning with the subtle buck of his hips, Betty stands from his lap and pulls her shirt over her head. Jughead watches from beneath hooded lids as she tugs her hair free of its elastic, her golden waves cascading down over her shoulders. She makes a show of unbuttoning her jeans, sliding the zipper down in agonizingly slow motion before allowing them to drop to her ankles. She kicks them off with her socks and swiftly flicks open the clasp on her bra, allowing it too, to fall to the floor. Jughead almost mindlessly rubs at the bulge in his jeans, letting a jagged breath as she hooks the sides of her panties with her index fingers and hikes them up to slip between her folds. The fabric tugs at her swollen nerves, urging her to let a tiny squeak of a moan that draws a whined groan from Jughead. His noises go straight to her core, soaking her lacy panties before she finally slips them down her thighs to join the rest of her discarded clothes.
Now entirely bared, Betty returns to him, kneeling between his feet to tug his shirt over his head. Before it even hits the floor, he's tugging at his jeans, fumbling with the button and desperately pulling them open. Smirking in amusement at his desperation, Betty curls her fingers into his waistband and shimmies both his boxers and his jeans to the floor in one go. During their first two encounters, she hadn't gotten a chance to appreciate his throbbing arousal in all its glory, but now, his baby soft and oh so sensitive skin bared to her, she wants to worship him. She starts with light kisses to his inner thighs, mingled with love bites and swirls of her tongue. His cock visibly throbs with each kiss, urging small whimpers and hums of approval from his lips.
As she nears his swollen member, she gently sucks each of his nuts into her mouth, earning a surprised moan before moving on to pepper kisses along his shaft. She avoids his tip, leaving it to burn with the desire to be touched as she laps tongue kisses along his length. With the bead of precum threatening to drip from his tip, she sucks him between her lips, earning a gasp followed by a deep groan as she works his length. His hand comes to rest at the back of her head, gently at first, but becomes heavier, more forceful as his moans come more rapidly. Pushing against the resistance of his hand, she releases him with a pop, smirking up at his tortured expression. She doesn't give him time to argue before she's straddling his lap, gliding his thick arousal between her glistening folds. With the upward rock of her hips she captures his tip at her entrance and forces him inside on her down stroke.
"Fuck," he groans loudly, digging his fingers into her hips to hold her firmly in place. "Oh god Betts. You feel so fucking good," he whimpers, his head dropping back against the couch.
As they work together to find a rhythm, Betty sucks at the steady pulse in his neck. With each nip and suck, Jughead groans in her ear, holding on tighter as he pulls her down hard onto his cock. With some shifting of her legs, Betty changes her position to be squatted over him, her feet at his sides and her knees high as she bounces on his cock. It's like nothing he's ever felt before, his engorged tip finding resistance as it hits hard against her cervix. With each bump of his tip to the end of her depth, Betty cries out, trying hard to keep quiet.
"Shit, Betty I'm gonna cum," he warns through a strained groan.
"Not yet," she breathes, "Your cock feels so good. I'm gonna cum for you Juggy."
"Fuck Betty," he groans, thrusting himself upward into her to meet her urgent pace as he fights hard to hold on.
Unable to hold back her scream of his name, she hides her face in his neck, rocking against him as her climax rips through her like a bolt of lightning. Jughead grunts loudly in her ear, his fingertips digging hard into the skin of her ass as he pulses deep inside her, his abdomen quivering as the last of his seed spurts out.
"Fuck," he groans into her hair, chuckling lightly with the floaty haze of sated bliss.
"Mmm," Betty agrees lazily, slipping her arms behind his back to nuzzle into his chest. His hand comes up to brush a sweat dampened lock of hair from her forehead and he presses a kiss to the top of her head.
After separating themselves from one another, Jughead urges Betty to rinse off in the shower while he checks on Finley. He finds Fin still fast asleep, so peaceful in his crib, before joining Betty in the shower. They linger a while in the hot water, just holding each other and enjoying the new sense of connection between them. Neither of them knew that sex could be like that, that they could feel as though they were one, like two pieces to the same puzzle, cut precisely to fit seamlessly together. There was no push and pull, but a balance of give and take.
After toweling off, they pad quietly to Jughead's room. Jughead offers her a t-shirt and she steals a pair of his boxers with a playful stick of her tongue. She's absolutely breathtaking, even being swallowed up by his clothes and he hopes that he gets to see her like this every day for the rest of his life.
At 1:00am, Jughead wakes to Finley crying for a bottle. He gets up immediately, scooping him up from his crib before taking a moment to admire the blonde in his bed. She'd stirred a little with Finley's cry, but she's not alert to it the way he is. He wonders briefly if she'll learn to wake when he cries before going to make Fin's bottle.
Feeling far too drained to stay up on the couch to feed Fin, he shuffles back to his room, finding Betty awake in bed.
"Where'd you go," she asks sleepily.
"Fin needs a bottle," he tells her softly.
"Come lay," she pleads through an adorably sleepy whine. "Finny can sleep with us."
"You sure," he hesitates, "I can just feed him and put him back to bed."
"You're tired," she reasons. "If I wasn't here, would you put him in bed with you?"
"Yes," he admits with a slight uncertainty.
"Then come lie down," she grins, looking proud to have won her sleepy argument.
Scooting herself closer to the wall, she gestures for Jughead to lay Fin beside her, taking the bottle from his hand so he can do it more easily. Sensing her warmth beside him, Finley nuzzles himself into her chest searching for her breast out of instinct. With an amused grin, Betty brings his bottle to his lips and he latches on forcefully.
Jughead can't help but smile as he lays back down. He feels foolish now for being worried she wouldn't want Fin in bed with them and he's beginning to think he should stop underestimating her.
