Sorry the delay! I was out of town. Plus I kept changing the title of this chapter. Here ya go though.

I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters.


Jughead walked through the doors of school and scanned the crowd. He hadn't seen Betty walk in. Now he was worried.

Everything lately had been against her.

Walking down the hall, he stopped when he saw her. She was by her locker. Head bowed.

"Betty?" he whispered coming to stand beside her.

Looking up, Betty gave him a small smile, "Hi," she whispered.

Tugging her arms, Jughead pulled her against him and held her tight, "are they ever going to forget?" she asked into his shoulder as her arms wound his waist.

"Someday."

Laughing, "great."

Tightening his arms, he just held her as the bell rang. Ignoring the looks from everyone as they passed.

"Are they gone?" she asked pulling her away from his chest.

Missing the connection, Jughead cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips softly against hers.

Betty smiled into his kiss, "I needed that."

"So did I."

Taking his hand, Betty walked down the hall with her head held high. Holding hands with the Southside Serpent.

After school, Jughead was looking through old articles from Riverdale on the computer. He stopped when one came up on the screen. It was one about a young woman, who looked an awful lot like Betty.

"Alice Smith?" he said aloud.

"That's my mom's maiden name," Betty said entering the room.

"Betty!" he exclaimed, slamming his computer closed.

Betty looked at Jughead, "Jug, what did you find?" she asked coming towards him.

"Nothing," he coughed.

Opening his computer, Betty looked at the article that popped up, "that's my mom," she whispered, "my mom was a serpent?"

Jughead gulped.

Staring at the screen, Betty couldn't believe it. Her mom only wrote articles for The Register that bashed the southside and the Serpents. She used to be one. How could she turn her back on them?

"Betty," Jughead spoke, "are you okay?" he questioned rubbing her arm.

Looking at him, "I don't know," she answered, sitting on his lap as he pulled her close, "I'm confused."

"I know someone who maybe able to help," he offered, linking their hands.

"Who?"

"My dad."

Betty looked at him, "my dad is Serpent King," he explained, "he went to high school, here, with your mom."

Realization hit Betty, "so you're…"

"The Serpent prince."

Laughing, "oh god, I'm sorry," she gasped covering her mouth.

Jughead laughed, she was adorable when she was embarrassed, "it's okay."

"Do you think he would?" Betty asked looking at Jughead.

Kissing her forehead, "yeah, he's curious about you," he admitted.

"Why?" she asked leaning against him, as he printed the articled out about her mom.

Jughead coughed, "Jug?"

"Sorry…"

Looking at him, Betty got the feeling there was something that Jughead Jones wasn't telling her.

"Maybe, I should go," she said standing up and grabbing her bag.

"Betty, wait," Jughead said standing up, "there's something I need to tell you," he said rolling his shoulders.

Taking his beanie off, he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm not…"

Betty looked at Jughead. She didn't know what to put in the blank he left. She didn't know where they stood. Yes, they had kissed in her room. She had asked him to stay and sleep with her. Which he did. But clothes had stayed on. Plus, Jughead had stayed on top of her covers.

Rubbing his neck, Jughead looked at Betty. She was nervous, "shit," he muttered, taking in her wringing her hands together. And. "Betty you have to stop biting your lip," he advised, stepping closer to her.

Reaching between them he gently pulled her lip out from under teeth, "seriously," he whispered, "you have no idea what that does."

"Jug," she whispered, "I don't…"

"I'm not a virgin," he admitted, "I…"

Smiling, Betty stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips against his. Grasping her waist he pulled her against him, tracing her bottom lip, asking permission.

Slowly, Betty pulled back, "Jug, that doesn't matter to me," she said.

Smirking, "I hope not," he said, "I just don't want to pressure you."

Gently tucking a curl of hair behind his ear, Betty smiled, "you won't," she said, "I trust you."

"Why?" he asked, "we don't know each other."

Shrugging, she stepped back, "I don't know," she admitted, "when you first walked down the hall, I…" she stopped, feeling her cheeks heat.

Smirking again, "you what?" he pushed, leaning back against the desk. Betty between his legs. Again.

Fingering the lapels of his leather jacket, Betty chewed the inside of her cheek. How was she supposed to admit to Jughead that she had felt a pull towards him the second he had walked down the hall that first day?

"Betts?" Jughead prompted.

Cheeks red, "I…" she started, "I couldn't… I…" she kept on, "I felt a pull to you," she murmured, looking at her feet.

"Say that one more time," he asked. Pulling her closer.

"Jug," she pleaded. Looking at him. Cheeks red.

"What kind of pull?" he questioned, quietly. Hooking his fingers in her hoodie pouch.

Betty looked at him. Eyes wide. Mouth slightly open. Cheeks reddening ever so slightly.

"Betty, what kind of pull?" he questioned again. His hands softly cupping her cheeks.

Not able to hold off anymore, "this kind," she whispered before crushing her lips against his as her body aligned perfectly against his.

Cupping her cheeks, Jughead sighed as Betty pressed against him. Her hands were inside his jacket, running along his ribs.

Tracing his bottom lip, Betty slipped her tongue into his mouth. Feeling Jughead's hands travel down her sides to her waist. She sighed.

Jughead pulled back, "we need to stop," he stated. Looking at Betty, he saw the sadness enter her eyes, "I promise this isn't the last time," he whispered into her ear.

He still wanted to unleash that hidden minx. It was there. Soon, it would be out to play. And he couldn't wait. There was much more to Betty Cooper than anyone thought.

"Come on," he said taking her hand, "let's go see if my dad is home."

Betty nodded, "Jug."

"I felt it too," he admitted.

Betty looked relieved.

Squeezing her hand. They left the classroom and headed out of the school.

Archie stood in the alcove. Fuming. How did Alice let her daughter keep seeing that Serpent? Looking at his phone. He smiled. Now he had proof that Betty was indeed a Serpent Slut. This was so much better than just pictures. The video showed Betty initiating the final kiss between her and the Serpent. And their hands exploring each other.

The walk to the southside had given Jughead time to calm down. His body had been on fire in the Blue and Gold.

Betty took in everything as they passed. She had always known that the southside was here, but she had never been here.

As they neared the trailer park, Jughead held Betty's hand tighter, "a northsider?" a voice asked, "really boy?"

"Back off, Tall Boy," Jughead sneered. His whole demeanor changed.

Betty looked at Jughead. Gone was the boy from school. In his place. The true Serpent Prince, in all his glory.

Squeezing her hand, Jughead walked towards a trailer near the front of the park, "home not so sweet home," he said.

Placing a hand on his cheek, "Jughead Jones," she said, "I don't care."

FP stood on the small porch and watched his son. Alice Smith's daughter had some spunk. She hadn't shrunk when Tall Boy had made his comment. If anything, her back had straightened. And. She didn't shy away from Jughead when he got protective. She looked proud. Proud to be here with him.

"Boy," he said, "get your ass in here before you start a riot."

Jughead looked at his dad. Betty took in the resemblance between the two. People often said she looked like her mom when Alice had been in high school. But Jughead and his dad; they looked.

"You must be Betty," FP said looking at the young girl, taking in the Jones men family resemblance.

"Yes. Sorry, I didn't…" she stopped.

FP laughed, "it's alright," he said, "Jughead here is the chip off the old block."

Jughead snorted, "god, I hope not."

Knocking his son's shoulder. It didn't get by FP that Jughead and Betty had their fingers intertwined. There was definitely something starting there.

"Come on in," he stated, turning to walk into the trailer.

Betty and Jughead followed. Walking in Betty took in the small trailer and smiled.

"Betty, would you like something to drink?" FP asked from the kitchen.

"No, thank you, Mr. Jones," she said sitting on the couch.

Jughead took his jacket off and sat down beside her. Leaning over, he whispered, "are you okay?"

Looking at him, "I'm good, Jughead," she soothed, "actually better."

Making a face, "being here makes me feel safe," she admitted.

FP stood in the entry way and hid his grin, "so what do I owe for this social call?" he asked sitting down in the recliner across from them.

Betty reached into her backpack and pulled out the article, "Jughead said you knew my mom," she said handing him the paper.

"Wow," FP laughed, "haven't seen that picture in quite some time," he finished.

"Dad," Jughead warned.

"Calm down boy."

"Mr. Jones…"

"Call me, FP, everyone does." FP interrupted.

Betty nodded, "FP, can you tell me about my mom?" she asked quietly.

FP looked at Betty, "she won't tell you if you ask."

"I doubt it," she admitted, "I didn't even know she used to be a Serpent."

"That's not surprising," FP said, rubbing his stubble, "she still is one."

Betty coughed, "how?"

"Once a Serpent, always a Serpent," Jughead explained, squeezing her thigh.

Leaning forward, "Betty, I'm not sure I'm the one to tell you about your mom," FP admitted, "we have a history and it might be better if you hear it from her."

Nodding, "can you give anything?" she asked, "I just…"

"Want some leverage?" FP guessed. Betty was her mother's daughter.

"In high school your mom was one of the baddest chicks. She had killer hair and she didn't give a rat's ass who didn't like her. Actually, she loved it when people pushed her," FP started, "she wore her Southside Serpent leather with pride, never backing down from showing her true colors."

"My mom was a bad ass?" Betty questioned to no one in particular, "now she's just a bitch."

FP laughed, "she was that then too."

Jughead looked at his dad. There was a look on his face. A look he hadn't seen in a long time. His dad was smitten.

"Mr. Jones… FP," Betty started, "thank you."

"I didn't give you much, Betty," FP said, smiling.

Betty shook her head, "I don't need anything more," she said holding up the article, "with what you told me and this article. My mom will have to talk to me."

FP nodded. He was beginning to see what his son saw in Betty Cooper. She was a bad ass in her own right. She just enough of Alice in her.

Looking at his son, FP noticed that Jughead was staring out the window, "Betty get down!" he commanded, grabbing her just as a brick came through the front window of the trailer.

Betty hit the floor with a thump as Jughead stood up. FP threw open the door, as the roar of motorcycles flooded the trailer.

"It was some redheaded kid," a female voice said, "hey Jughead."

"Toni," Jughead said, standing Betty up, "let me see," he said gently spinning her around.

Giggling, "Jug, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

Leaning forward she wrapped her arms around his waist, "yes," she whispered as he brought his lips down hers.

"So that's her?" Toni asked FP after taking in the scene.

FP nodded, "yep."

Jughead walked out with Betty, "did anyone see who threw the brick?" he asked handing Betty a helmet.

Betty looked at the helmet. It had a small crown on it. Just like his beanie. Smiling to herself, Betty traced the small symbol. The one that meant Jughead.

"Toni said it was some redheaded kid," FP explained watching Betty. He couldn't help but smile.

"Archie," she breathed.

"Betty," Jughead voiced.

"Is he ever going to stop?" she blurted out.

Climbing off his bike, Jughead wrapped his arms around her, "yes."

FP came down the stairs and put a hand on her arm, "we'll make sure of it."

"Don't hurt him," she stammered, "he's just…"

"Bullying you?" Jughead filled in. More than a little perturbed that Betty still defended the guy.

"We won't hurt him," FP said looking at Jughead, pointedly, "I'll call Fred and see if he knows what's going on."

"Thank you, FP," she squeaked as Jughead squeezed her.

The ride back to her house was quiet. Leaning against Jughead, Betty enjoyed the wind against her legs and arms. The freedom she felt.

"Jug," she said climbing off and handing his helmet.

"Hmm."

"Jug," she tried again, "I know it doesn't make sense."

"Am I just some filler for you?" Jughead fumed.

"No!" Betty faltered, "not at all!"

"Then what am I? A project?" he seethed, "someone to hold until red realizes he's in love with you?"

"Jug," she cried, "none of that."

Jughead got off his bike, "then why are you defending him?" he questioned stepping closer to her.

Alice stood on her front porch and took in the scene in front of her. Crossing her arms, she wanted it to end. She needed Betty to see that the Southside Serpents were all bad.

Betty looked up at Jughead. He was upset. She got that, but she had known Archie her whole life.

"I…"

Loosing his patience, "forget it," he said climbing on his bike, "this experiment is over."

"Jughead!" Betty screamed as he tore down the street.

Hurrying down the steps, Alice gathered her daughter in her arms.

"Now do you, see?" she asked walking Betty inside.

"See what?" Betty demanded looking at her mother, "Jughead isn't bad!"

"He hurt you!" Alice shot back.

"He's hurting!" she yelled back, "Archie won't stop," Betty cried, "he threw a brick through the Jones's front window."

"Why were you on the southside?" Alice sputtered.

"Jughead's dad wanted to meet me," Betty explained, "and I wanted to ask him some questions."

"Questions about what?" Alice asked, cautiously.

"You."

"Why would you?" Alice stopped as Betty opened her backpack.

Betty pulled the article out of her backpack and shoved it at her, "because you were a Southside Serpent."

Jughead drove home like a bat out of hell. The wind hitting his face, not affecting him nor the car horns blaring as he sped past.

Parking his bike, he ripped off his helmet. FP walked up, "what happened?" he asked.

"Nothing!" Jughead barked climbing off the bike, "I'm going back to Southside High."

FP grabbed his son by the shoulders, "the hell you are," he threatened, "what happened?"

"She keeps defending him!" he hollered, "and she doesn't have a reason."

"Boy," FP warned pinching the bridge of his nose, "you don't get it do you?"

"Get what?" Jughead spat, "that I'm some experiment to her?"

FP groaned, "not at all," he stated, "I talked to Fred. He watched the two of you."

"So?"

"Betty is broken up about it."

"Not enough to stop me."

"Boy, you are almost to much like me," FP laughed, "you get mad, shut down and leave."

"That's not…"

"True?" FP finished, "then why are you here and not talking to your girl?"

Jughead looked at his dad. In more ways than one, he was FP Jones's son. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst ways.


Oh boy! What did you think?