Here is the final chapter! I hope you have enjoyed this AU journey.

I have no rights to Riverdale or these characters.


Jughead and FP left the Cooper's house and headed home.

"How ya feeling boy?" FP asked as they walked into their trailer.

"Like I should have stayed with Betty," Jughead admitted, pulling out his phone.

"Boy."

"She needs me."

FP smirked. His son had that love feeling bad. He couldn't blame him. Betty was special.

Do you want me to come back? Jughead texted, not taking off his jacket, yet.

Betty looked at her phone and smiled, No. I'm okay. I'm going to head to bed and try to forget today happened.

Let me know if you need anything.

I will.

Taking off his coat, Jughead sat down the couch and took a deep breath.

"I couldn't tell her," he stated running his hands through his hair.

"Tell her what?" FP asked standing in the kitchen watching him.

"That I love her."

"Boy, you have time."

Jughead looked up at his dad, "how do I know when she's ready?"

FP walked into the living room, "you won't."

"Then…"

"Let me finish," FP laughed, "Jug, you're not going to know exactly when Betty is ready to hear it," he continued, "but you'll know when it's the right time for you to tell her."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because unlike me, you'll mean it when you say it to her."

Jughead stared at his dad. He knew his dad had been a ladies' man in high school, but he hadn't thought.

"Those three words carry a lot of weight," FP said, seeing his son come to some realization.

"Dad?"

"I have only meant those words to two women," FP admitted, running a hand over his face, "your mom and..."

"Alice Cooper?" Jughead guessed.

FP stared at his son, "how did?"

"Betty asked her mom about you."

"Hmm…"

Jughead looked at his dad. That smitten look was back on his face.

Betty sat at her desk. She couldn't concentrate on her homework. Twisting in her chair, she looked around her room and grimaced. It was so pink. So little girl looking. Too girl next door.

Standing up she went to her closet and opened the door. Picking through her clothes, she found an outfit that would work. Tomorrow she was going to be a different Betty. One who wasn't scared of what people thought of her.

Alice watched her daughter, "Betty?" she asked, "what?"

"I'm tired of being the girl next door," Betty answered laying her outfit on her vanity chair.

"But…"

"Mom, I'm not the girl in those pictures," she whispered, "but I'm not me, either."

Alice stepped into the room and looked around, "I'm not perfect," Betty added, looking at her.

"You never had to be perfect," Alice argued.

Betty laughed, "you're kidding, right?"

Staring at her, "why would I be kidding?"

"Because my whole life, you have always taught me that appearance is all that matters. Everyone has to believe that we're perfect," Betty argued, "we're the damn Stepford's of Riverdale!"

"Watch your tone, young lady," Alice snapped.

Snorting back a laugh, "you don't even see it do you?"

"See what?"

"That this," Betty illuminated, "all of this is your fault!"

"How are those pictures my fault?" Alice chastised, "I'm not the one who was stripping for a camera."

Closing her eyes, "I was drunk, mom."

Alice gaped at her daughter, "you what?"

"You never let me do anything. I always had to tell you what I was doing," Betty explained, "so when Trev asked me out and told me would be going to parties, yeah I went overboard."

Alice clicked her tongue, "well now you have to deal with the consequences."

Betty smirked, "which is why I'm going to change my look. Starting tomorrow."

"Betty…"

"No," she interrupted, "I'm done. I'm done being the pretend perfect daughter. I'm done being a Stepford."

Throwing up her hands, Alice walked out of her daughter's room. She had no idea what had gotten into her.

Jughead walked into school the next morning. Looking around he saw that the pictures of Betty had all disappeared.

"Did you hear?" Kevin asked coming to stand beside him.

"Hear what?" Jughead asked, not able to contain his curiosity.

"Archie got suspended for 2 weeks for his stunt yesterday."

"Only 2 weeks?"

Kevin laughed, "his dad pushed for a month."

"Mr. Andrews?"

"Yep," Kevin said, "said Archie needed to learn that you can't go after people."

Jughead nodded.

"Woah," Kevin breathed.

Jughead turned and followed his sight line. Betty was coming down the hall. But she didn't look like herself. Her hair was down, like it had been at homecoming. Her make up was more prominent. She was wearing his "S" shirt and boots.

Unsticking his tongue from the roof of his mouth, "Betty," he coughed.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Betty pressed against Jughead as she pulled him into a kiss.

Grasping her waist, Jughead had to fight back a groan as Betty traced his lower lip.

"Betty, we…" he said pulling back.

Betty looked at Jughead, "I needed a change," she admitted stepping back from him.

Taking in the whole outfit, Jughead swallowed hard. He had been trying since he started at Riverdale to find Betty's inner minx. But now that he had, he didn't know what to do with it.

"Betty?" Veronica questioned, staring at her friend, "what?"

"I'm tired of being seen as the perfect girl next door," Betty explained, "and I have my Vixen shorts on," she finished, lifting the hem of Jughead's shirt.

Indeed, she did have on her River Vixen shorts. That made Jughead feel slightly better. But he was confused.

After school, Jughead walked with Betty back to his trailer. They had a test the next day. Neither of them was prepared.

Sitting on the couch, he pulled out his book and opened it. Betty gently took the book out of his hand, "I have a better idea," she whispered, straddling his lap.

Jughead fought back a groan as Betty's hands worked their way through his hair and her lips trailed along his neck.

"Betty," he murmured as his hands rubbed her thighs, "we shouldn't…"

Covering his mouth with hers, Betty made Jughead forget his next comment. Shifting he laid her down on the couch.

Taking off his coat he looked down at her. Her lips were slightly swollen and her eyes were at half-mast.

"Jug," Betty blushed as her hands traveled up his arms.

Not needing any instruction, Jughead lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply. Betty sighed as she felt his weight settle against her body.

Trailing his hands up her ribs under his shirt, he groaned when Betty pressed her hips against his body, "mhm."

Tugging at his shirt, Betty pulled it off when Jughead sat up. Smirking at him she sat up and pressed against him. Pulling his mouth to hers.

Feeling Betty's hands on his bare chest, Jughead lost his control. Pulling his mouth away from Betty's he trailed kisses down her neck as his hands pressed against her ribs, needing.

Betty groaned as Jughead kneaded her ribs and kissed her neck, "Jug," she moaned as he pushed his shirt up.

FP stopped at the door. He had a feeling he shouldn't go inside his trailer, not yet anyway. Jughead was home.

Unlocking the door, he pulled away and rubbed a hand over his face.

Inside, Jughead pulled away from Betty and climbed off the couch, "we can't," he stammered, "it's not…"

"Jug?" Betty questioned.

Jughead looked around the living room, "not right now," he lamented before heading to the bathroom. For another cold shower.

Betty sat up on the couch and stared after him. Jumping when the door opened.

FP stepped inside and looked around. He came face to face with his son's girlfriend, who was in tears and not dressed like herself.

"Jughead is in the shower," Betty explained quietly.

Nodding, "a cold one, I'm betting," FP laughed.

"What?"

"A cold shower."

Betty stared at FP, "I'm guessing your state of undress matches my sons."

Looking down at herself, "this is what I wore to school," she clarified, "but yes we were…"

FP held up a hand, "I don't want to know."

Betty nodded, "he just left," she cried, looking towards the kitchen.

"Betty," FP said.

Looking at her boyfriend's dad, "Jughead isn't lacking in the experience department," he started, "but he doesn't want to pressure you," he continued, "so since you two became a couple, he has been taking cold showers."

"We didn't have to stop," Betty argued. Feeling put out that Jughead thought he had to stop them.

FP smirked. Betty was something else.

"He's not going to take advantage of your feelings."

"I don't…"

FP got up and moved to sit beside her on the couch, "right now you're in a vulnerable place. You may not feel like you are, but…"

Betty nodded as a tear slid down her cheek, "he wants to keep me safe."

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders and squeezing, "yes."

"Thank you, FP," Betty said, "will you tell Jughead I went home."

"Of course."

Betty walked home. Not paying attention she ended up in front of the Whyte Wyrm.

"How did I?" she asked, looking around.

"You lost princess?" a burly guy asked coming towards her.

"Leave her alone, Tall Boy." Betty turned to look at the girl. She was pretty.

"I'm Toni," she told her, "you must be Betty."

Nodding, "I wasn't paying attention."

"It's alright," Toni said, "do you want to come in? Call for a ride?"

Betty looked around. She was cold. "Maybe for a minute then I'll head home, again."

Toni smirked as the girl walked past her. She didn't look like she had the first time Toni had seen her. Gone was the girl next door vibe. Replaced by something Toni couldn't put her finger on.

"Does Jughead know you're here?" Toni asked grabbing a bar stool.

"I just left his place," Betty explained, "I was in my head, I must have…"

Toni nodded, "you look different."

"I'm trying something new."

"Yeah? How's that working out for you?"

Betty laughed, "not well."

"Why not?"

"Well, my friends think I have lost my mind," Betty started, "Jughead will only go so far with me before he goes to take a cold shower."

Toni choked on her water, "he what?"

"Apparently since we became a couple, Jughead keeps having to take cold showers," Betty said quietly.

"Girl," Toni smiled, "he has it bad for you."

"What do you mean?" Betty asked, "he won't touch me for longer than a few minutes and then when he does, he's pulling away just as fast."

Toni put her hand on Betty's arm, "I know that may seem like he doesn't want you," she said, "but I can tell you from experience, that means Jughead is in deep."

Betty blushed, "I forgot you two…"

"Only once," Toni interrupted, "and it didn't mean anything."

"Then?"

"It was his birthday," Toni explained, "him and FP had just gotten into it."

Betty looked at Toni, "Jughead's birthday?"

"Yeah, it's next week," Toni answered.

"He didn't tell me," Betty whispered, embarrassed.

Squeezing her arm, "hey, don't feel embarrassed. Jughead hates his birthday, so he doesn't like it to be a big deal."

Betty nodded, "I think I should head home, again."

"Betty," Toni said, "don't be to hard on yourself or Jughead. He cares a lot about you."

"Thanks Toni," Betty said standing and heading towards the door.

Once outside, Betty took a deep breath and fought back the tears threatening her eyes. Toni knew Jughead so much better than she did. How did she not know his birthday was coming up?

Jughead sat on his couch and stared at his book. He had left Betty sitting on the couch, confused.

"Boy?" FP asked, "there's smoke coming off your head, stop thinking so hard."

Glaring at his dad, "I…"

"She was fine. A little upset, but fine."

"She hasn't texted me that she's home."

"Why don't you text her?"

Jughead stared at his dad. He hadn't even thought of that.

"What's going on with you?"

"Did you see what she was wearing?" Jughead asked waving his hands.

"Yes, very little."

Rolling his eyes, "it took everything I had all day to keep my hands off her. Then we get here and she's miss minx and I can't stop."

"But you did."

Jughead took a deep breath, "I didn't want too."

FP smirked, "that's normal. Your hormones are running wild because you can't do what you want."

Jughead was about to answer when there was a knock at the door, "Toni," he said answering it.

"Just thought you should know Betty came by the Whyte Wyrm," Toni explained standing outside the door.

"She what?" Jughead questioned, "how did she?"

Toni shrugged, "I'm not sure how she ended up there, but she did."

"Was she?"

"She was upset."

Jughead took off his beanie and ran a hand through his hair, "I need to talk to her."

"That would be good," Toni agreed, "and Jughead, I may have told her your birthday is coming up."

Jughead stared at Toni. He didn't celebrate his birthday. Betty was going to want to celebrate.

"I'm sorry, it just slipped," Toni apologized, "but I don't think it really registered."

"Why?"

"Because she was upset about you two."

"Yeah, I screwed up."

Toni smacked his arm, "well fix it," she demanded, "I like her."

"You always were more into girls."

"Bet your ass."

Betty walked into her house and stopped. Something was different. The lights were dim.

"Betty!" Alice gasped, "what are you doing here?"

"I live here."

"I know that, but I thought," Alice stopped as FP stepped beside her.

"Hi, Betty."

"Hi, FP," she said, looking between the two, "I'm going to my room. You two have fun."

Walking upstairs, Betty shook her head. She didn't want to know what her mom and FP were doing.

Setting her backpack down, she took out her notebook and schoolbook. She really did need to study. Grabbing a pen, she opened her book.

Did you make it home okay?

Smiling at her phone, yes, sorry I just home. I got lost on the south side.

Yeah, Toni came by and told me.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Betty. I didn't…

It's okay, Jug. I understand.

Walk you to school tomorrow?

Always.

Setting her phone, Betty took a deep breath. Something was off with her and Jughead. She just didn't know how to fix it.

The next week seemed to drag on. Jughead was dreading his birthday. FP had planned a 'get together' as he called it at the Whyte Wyrm.

"Still coming tonight?" he asked Betty pulling her against him in the hallway.

"Of course," she laughed. Turning she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had a surprise for him.

Jughead lowered his mouth to hers. He had gotten more control and was slowly exploring Betty's new look and attitude. Although he missed the soft preppy girl he had first met.

Betty slid her hand into Jughead's hair and traced his bottom lip. Slipping her tongue into his mouth she sighed as his hands kneaded her waist.

Pulling back, Jughead slipped his hand into Betty's hair and turned her head. Pressing his lips against her neck, he groaned quietly as she slipped her hands into his jacket.

"Seriously?" Cheryl asked she walked by, "mating again?"

"Shut up, Cheryl," Betty argued, "you're just mad, you not…"

"I'm not what?" Cheryl tested.

Betty blushed. She and Jughead still hadn't.

"That's what I thought," Cheryl grinned, "you can change the way you dress, your attitude, but you're always going to be a girl next door."

"She's not even that anymore," A voice said behind Cheryl, "now she's a Serpent Slut. But instead of being embarrassed by it. She's embracing it."

Jughead turned and glared at Archie, "what exactly is your problem?"

"I don't have one," Archie argued, "but your girl does."

Tightening his arms around Betty, "does she even let you touch her? and I mean really touch her?"

"That's none of your business."

Archie laughed, "she all but asked me last year to take her virginity."

Jughead looked at Betty, "I…"

"You don't to explain," he said, "that was more than a year ago."

Laughing again, "she's never going to trust you. Not enough," Archie chided, "you're just a Serpent."

"Back off Archie," Betty demanded, "Jughead is nothing like you."

"Thank god," Archie teased, "I was raised on the right side of the tracks by a father who can hold a steady job and isn't an alcoholic."

Jughead smirked, "you think you know me so well."

"But don't I?" Archie questioned.

"I mean you were raised on the wrong side of the tracks by a dead-beat dad. Or am I wrong?"

"My dad's not perfect," Jughead said, straightening his shoulders, "but he's human, so he doesn't have to be. But as for the dead-beat comment, you're wrong."

Betty smiled at Jughead using her phrasing.

"Oh really?" Archie challenged stepping towards Jughead.

Jughead let go of Betty and stepped towards Archie. His news was going to blow a hole in red's life perception, "my dad is your dad's foreman."

"No, he's not."

"Has been for almost 2 years."

"That's a lie," Archie accused.

"Ask your dad," Jughead said taking Betty's hand, "their friends. My dad needed help out of a dark place. Your dad was there for him."

Walking out of the school, Jughead felt like a weight had been lifted. Finally, his secret was out.

"Do you want to come over before tonight?" he asked pulling Betty close, "we have time."

Betty laughed and cuddled against him, "I would love to, but I have to get ready."

Jughead pouted, "we won't have a lot of alone time tonight."

"Jug," she said cupping his cheek, "we're in this for the long haul. We have time."

Kissing her soundly, Jughead watched her walk away. Smirking he headed home to prepare himself for his 'get together'.

Betty stared at herself in her vanity mirror. She looked closer to who she wanted to be. Her make up was light. Hair was down and wavy. On she had a pale pink crop top with a blue button front skirt.

"Betty," Alice said coming into her room, "are you almost ready?"

Standing up, "you look…"

"Normal?" Betty guessed, looking at her mom.

"No," Alice argued, "you look nice."

Laughing, "thanks mom."

"I don't mean that…"

"I get it," Betty interrupted, "you like that I'm back to wearing my 'goody two shoes' clothes."

Alice took her daughters hands, "that's not it at all. I like that you're finding yourself," she said, "I haven't been thrilled with your outfits as of late, but this one; this one takes the best of both Betty's."

"Both Betty's?"

"Your dark side and your light side."

Betty stared at her mom, "how did?"

Alice shrugged, "when you and Jughead explained what happened at Homecoming, I got the feeling that something had snapped inside you."

"It did," Betty agreed, "my sanity."

"Not your sanity," Alice corrected, "your bullshit meter."

"My what?"

Laughing, "Betty, you have always done what is expected of you. Even at the cost to yourself. You do everything to make everyone else happy. That night you finally stood up for yourself and took back control."

Betty looked at her, "I'm proud of you for that."

"Thanks mom."

"Now are you ready to go?" Alice said, ignoring the tender moment they had just shared.

"Yeah, I need to find my trench coat."

"Why?"

"I don't want Jughead to see my outfit."

"Why?"

"Because things have been…"

"Off?"

"How did you?"

"I was a teenager once."

"Don't remind me," Betty teased as she grabbed her trench coat from the closet.

Jughead paced around the Whyte Wrym. Betty wasn't there yet. "Boy, stop pacing. She'll be here," FP said.

Glaring at him, "She went home to change. What if?"

"Did you ask her too?"

"No."

"Then don't let your imagination wander there."

Growling, "right, your imagination has been there for the last few hours," FP conceded.

Toni stood behind the bar and shook her head. Jughead had it bad.

"Has he told her yet?" she whispered to FP.

"No."

"Maybe that's?"

"Oh, that is definitely, why," FP agreed, "he wants it to be perfect."

"Betty won't care if it's perfect."

FP looked at Toni, "we agree on that."

The door the Whyte Wyrm opened and Jughead's breath caught. Betty was in a trench coat. Not a good sign.

"Breathe, boy," FP told him coming to his side.

"Alice, Betty," he said, "I'll take your coats."

Alice looked at him, "you're joking right?"

FP laughed. Alice was back in her southside glory. Serpent jacket where it belonged, her shoulders.

"Of course," he agreed.

Betty came to stand in front of Jughead, "Happy Birthday," she whispered, "I have surprise for you, later."

Jughead gulped, "thank you," he whispered before kissing her.

The next couple hours, dragged on for Jughead. He was dreading what was under Betty's trench coat.

Yes, they had found a dark corner and made out. But she had stopped him from undoing her coat. It was driving him crazy.

"Can we go to your trailer?" Betty asked when Jughead pulled her to him, "I'm tired of wearing this coat."

Jughead took a breath, "you're not?"

"What?" she asked.

"Never mind."

"Jug?"

Taking a deep breath, "I thought you went home to change so that you could do the Serpent dance."

"What's the Serpent dance?" Betty asked.

"It's the initiation for women into the gang," Toni answered, "it's archaic and sexist."

"Oh," she nodded, "you thought?"

"I honestly didn't know what to think," Jughead sputtered, "we've been in such a weird place."

"Jughead Jones," Betty started, "are you?"

Taking her hand, Jughead lead Betty out to his motorcycle. Handing her his helmet in silence. He took them back to the trailer.

Walking in he took of his beanie and jacket, "Betty, I…" he started turning to look at her.

Betty followed Jughead. When he turned his back, she took off her trench coat.

Taking in her outfit, "Betty, I love you," he said walking to her, "I love you."

Lifting her hands, "this was your surprise?" he asked, turning her around.

"Yes," she whispered, "I love you too, Jughead."

Pulling her against him, Jughead kissed Betty.

"Why the change?" he asked when they parted.

Betty shrugged, "I didn't feel like myself."

"Do you now?"

"I always feel closer to myself when I'm with you, Jughead," she admitted, "ever since you came into my life, I've been finding hidden pieces of myself."

Jughead pulled Betty onto his lap as he sat on the couch, "I don't know what to say."

Laying her head against his shoulder, "you don't have to say anything."

Kissing her forehead, Jughead smiled. He had finally said it. And best of all. Betty Cooper loved him too.


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