Author's Note: Hey all! So, I know I said I would be skipping a few weeks every chapter, but this chapter is genuinely important to the story. So, no time skip. It simply takes place the day after the last chapter, and starts out with Betty in Jughead's hospital room, talking to him. Obviously he can't respond, but it makes her feel better just talking to him. Also… a few people find out about Betty's pregnancy in this chapter. And not just FP and Alice. Others…. So, before the A/N gets TOO long, let's just jump right into the chapter!

BETTY'S POV

I sat next to the hospital bed Jughead had been hooked up to in the chair sitting next to him. He was unconscious, obviously, in a coma. I was holding his hand, talking to him.

Earlier in my visit, I'd talked to him about things like, school. Or home. I told him that his father had called his mother, and Gladys Jones and his little sister Jellybean were coming to town to see him within the next week. But I had something else to tell him. Even if he wasn't awake, he needed to know.

I checked to make sure the door was closed, and took Jug's left hand in both of mine. I said, "Juggy… I have to tell you something. Even if you're not awake, you have a right to know. I know I should've told you this, and I was going to tell you yesterday. But… I obviously didn't get the chance," I sucked in a breath, and took one hand off of his to touch my stomach. "I'm pregnant, Juggy. And I know you're asleep, but I still needed to tell you. And once your mom and your sister get here, I'm gonna tell your whole family. I'm also going to tell them that I'm keeping it,"

Jughead just laid there, still as if he were dead. But the heartbeat monitor showed his heart was beating, and his chest heaved ever so slightly at every breath he took. At least I had that to show me he was still alive. At least… I had that to show me that my baby's father was still with us.

Suddenly, a light knock came at the door, and when I turned, it was FP Jones, Jughead's father. Seeing I had seen him, he opened the door with a gentle smile.

"Hey Betty," he said, his gentle smile accompanied by a sad tone. "How you holding up?"

Honestly, if I learned anything from what happened with Jughead, it's that if I want to tell someone I'm pregnant, I need to tell them as quick as possible. And now is my chance with FP.

I stood up, gently placing Jughead's hand on his chest. I looked FP in the eye and said, "Mr. Jones… I have to tell you something. Something I was going to tell Jughead but… never really got the chance,"

"Oh uh… go ahead, Betty," FP said, trying to hide his nervousness.

I sucked in a breath and said, "There's really no good way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. I'm pregnant. With Jughead's baby. And I'm keeping it,"

Jughead's father just stared at me in shock, the same way Sweet Pea and Fangs had when they found out about the baby as well. I was expecting him to be angry, yell at me, tell me to stay away or something like that. But instead, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'll support you, Betty," FP said in my ear. "Every step of the way,"

I smiled to myself, a tear falling out of my eye. "Thank you, Mr. Jones. For everything,"

We pulled apart and looked down at Jughead, who looked as though he was sleeping. "Did you tell Jug?"

"That's… the problem" I sighed. "I was going to tell him yesterday, but then you called me saying he was in the hospital and…"

"And you fainted," FP finished for me. He put a hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm so sorry, Betty. It's hard for me, but I can't imagine what it would be like for you, what, with the baby and everything,"

"The what, Elizabeth?" Mom's voice came from the opened door behind FP.

Apparently, FP had failed to close the door fully, so Mom was able to push it open silently. Funny, because every time I've opened it recently, it's creaked like it was calling for help. Now, all of a sudden, it's silent? Odd. But whatever.

I looked at Mom with alarm and said, "N-nothing, Mom! Uh, Mr. Jones and I were just talking about Jughead and-"

"Nuh-uh, Elizabeth," Mom said sternly, and I knew there was no way we were getting out of it. "What did FP just say about some… baby?"

FP looked at me, as if to say, I'm so sorry, I didn't know the door wasn't closed! I nodded to him to say it was okay, and then turned to Mom.

I sucked in a breath and said, "Mom… I have something to tell you,"

"You absolutely do!" she yelled, almost hysterically.

I exhaled that breath and said, "I'm pregnant,"

Even though Mom was undoubtedly expecting me to say this, she was still stunned. Standing there, staring at me, just like everyone who found out did. Her mouth quivered, as though she was going to say something, but her vocal cords wouldn't work.

"E-Elizabeth…" Mom managed to mutter. "How? … Why?"

I scoffed. "Mom, you know exactly how."

"Why?" she asked, almost pleading. "I told you to be safe with him…."

"Trust me, Mom," I said. "I got pregnant well before your little talk with me."

This shocked her. "Elizabeth… why?"

"Does there have to be a reason for everything, Mom?" I demanded. "It doesn't matter what you think anyways, I'm keeping the baby. No matter what you say,"

This obviously stunned Mom just as much as the news of my pregnancy did. I had a strange feeling she was going to tell me to either abort it or give it up for adoption or something, but there's no way I would let that happen.

Mom quickly managed to regain her pristine composure and said, "That's fine, Elizabeth. Just know that you'll have to find somewhere to live; I'm moving onto the Farm's premises, and selling the house."

"W-what..?" I asked my mom, my voice suddenly just a husk of what it usually is.

She looked at me with an icy stare and said, "Edgar and I are engaged, honey, that's partly why I'm moving,"

"What's the other reason you're moving?" I asked, feeling the tears sting my eyes already.

She sucked in a breath and said, "The Farm has helped me, honey. I know you've been very clear about your so apparent hatred for the Farm, but I really think you should join. They helped me, they helped Polly… they can help you too, Elizabeth,"

"Over my dead body!" I yelled, the tears slipping down again. "I'll find somewhere to live. You just sell my childhood home, the only place I've ever lived, it's not like you care what I think!"

"Elizabeth-" Mom started, but she never got to finish. I shoved past her, leaving Jughead's hospital room, leaving her and FP behind. I told myself I'd go back later in the day to talk to him some more.

I decided to call Veronica to come take me to her house, since I didn't really want to go back to my house in case Mom came home.

Truthfully, I'm a little intimidated and maybe even frightened by her father, Hiram Lodge. She answered immediately, and said she could be to Riverdale General in fifteen minutes.

While waiting for her, I couldn't help but think about my mom. How had she been roped into this so quickly? Polly had managed to escape while she still could. But Mom… now she's engaged to Edgar Evernever? What happened?

Polly and her twin babies, Juniper and Dagwood, are currently living with Cheryl Blossom and her Nana Rose at Thistlehouse. According to Polly, Cheryl forced her mother (don't ask me how, I don't even want to know) to leave Thistlehouse to her and Nana Rose. Cheryl then asked Polly and the twins to move in with her, and since by then, Mom had started getting in tight with the Farm as Polly had just escaped, Polly accepted, and is now living at Thistlehouse.

But I don't really have anywhere to go. Well, not anywhere where I'm really, genuinely welcome. At least I don't think I do.

Pregnant, and alone. I wished so badly that Jughead could be here with me, hugging me, telling me everything's okay. But he's in a coma from a supposed motorcycle accident that, if what Fangs and Sweet Pea are remembering is correct, didn't even really happen.

There's no way I'm going to live at the farm. I'm not going to deliver my baby in a place that houses a cult.

Veronica finally arrived, and the second I got in her car, I started telling her what ha gone down in Jug's hospital room.

After I finished explaining in full, Veronica put her arm around my neck and said, "Awww B, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, V," I said, sadness in my voice. "It just sucks that I don't have anywhere to live,"

She scoffed. "Seriously, Betty?" she rolled her eyes and looked back at me. "Betty, you know you can always stay at the Pembrooke with me,"

"What about your dad?" I asked. "Would he really like me staying with you guys?"

Veronica laughed and said, "Oh, don't worry, B. My father won't hurt a hair on your head if he cares about me," she then added, "Which I'm fairly sure he does,"

I smiled at her, and we talked the entire fifteen minutes it took to get back to Veronica's apartment at the Pembrooke. She told me about how her father's been acting really shady lately (which didn't exactly help my anxiety about staying with her), and about how her mother has been making really strange mayoral decisions lately.

But then, she asked about how I was dealing with Jughead.

"Your baby daddy's in a coma, Betty," she said softly as we stood in the elevator that was taking us to the floor of Veronica's apartment.

I exhaled loudly and said, "I know, V, you don't need to remind me,"

"I'm sorry!" she held her hands up in defense. "I don't mean to be rude or anything. But… you should have a backup plan just in case he…" she didn't have to finish the sentence for me to know what she was saying.

Just in case he dies. That's what she was about to say.

Truthfully, I had been thinking about this a lot. How can you not? I mean, I'm pregnant with his baby. I'm sure if he had known about the baby, he never would have even left with Sweet Pea and Fangs that day. I mean, I obviously don't know what his reaction would've been because I never got the chance to tell him. But… I'm hoping I get to.

"I have faith in him, Vee," I said simply. "He might die, but I believe that he's going to come back to me. Jughead would never leave me like that, I can promise you," and I just hoped that my words were true.

I stayed the night at Veronica's, just like she offered. Turns out Hiram Lodge was away on a "business trip," trying to secure a new investor in some crazy thing he wants to add to his prison, some crazy thing he won't tell Veronica and Hermione about, which is making Hermione crazy. She paced around the living room for like, half an hour before dinner, and only stopped when Veronica said that we were going out to get Pop's, although Hermione was adamant she cook me a good dinner, since I told her I was pregnant that day before deciding to stay.

Unfortunately, I fell asleep right before visiting hours ended at the hospital, so I didn't get to see Jug before the day ended, which was unfortunate. I made a promise to him, even if he couldn't hear it, that I would see him every single day until he woke up.

The next day…

I woke up the next day and decided to take a shower. After asking Hermione for permission, she told me "Of course!" and went in.

Afterwards, I got out and dried off. I decided to put on a signature sweater, a pale, fairy-like blue one, and then looked in Veronica's mirror to confirm I looked acceptable. But, I saw something much worse.

A bump.

That might not seem like a big deal to you, but I'm pregnant. I know I'm pregnant, and there's a baby bump. My baby's getting big enough to show itself on my body. To think… in a few months, I'm going to look like I've stuffed a basketball under my shirt.

At school…

There are two reasons people would be whispering about me right now:

One, my father, Harold Cooper, was just revealed as the Black Hood. The person who shot Fred Andrews, who killed Geraldine Grundy, who shot Moose, and killed Midge during the school play. That's my dad.

And my boyfriend, Jughead Jones, was just in a really bad motorcycle accident that caused him to slip into a coma. You can see why people would be talking about me in the halls.

But then, I heard the little word that made my heart stop.

"... pregnant…" a girl who I think's named Hannah Elroy whispered.

I stopped in my tracks, and Hannah's friend whispered, "Oh no! I think she heard you!"

"I did," I snapped my body around to look at Hannah Elroy and her friend. "Maybe, everyone in this school should just mind their own business, right? Because how would you feel if I went snooping through your private life, and started talking crap about you in the halls?"

"W-we weren't talking about you," Hannah stuttered out.

At this point, everybody in the halls was looking at me addressing Hannah and her friend.

I scoffed and said, "Yes you were! All of you were!" I said, suddenly addressing everyone in the halls. "You may feel guilty, you may not. I couldn't care less how you feel about it. Just don't talk about me behind my back, and we don't have a problem. Understood?"

Hannah Elroy and her friend nodded, no one else. But I didn't care. I'd gotten my point across, mission accomplished.

The day was kind of torture. Everyone was talking about Jughead being in a coma, and the fact that my father is a serial killer.

The second school was over, I asked Veronica to give me a ride to Riverdale General, which she happily did. Thankfully, Jughead had no visitors at the time, I was the only one there.

He was laying exactly as I'd left him, with his hand on his chest, his other hand at his side. I immediately sat down next to him, and couldn't help but start talking to him.

"They're talking about you at school, Jug," I said, holding his hand. "They're all saying how sorry they are about what happened to you,"

I touched my slight belly and said, "Our baby's getting bigger, Juggy. I have a doctor's appointment next week, and then I'll come and visit you,"

"Why're you talking to him?" the voice of Josie McCoy came from the doorway. I looked over and saw she had a bouquet of flowers.

I chuckled lightly and said, "The doctors told me the first day that talking to him can help him wake up. Telling someone stories and hearing… loved ones' voices, can help trigger like… nerves in the brain or something that can help awaken someone in a coma, and makes it easier for them to become alert or something like that,"

"Doesn't sound too specific," she joked.

I smiled painfully and said, "Well I wasn't really listening. Mostly thinking about the fact that technically, my boyfriend died,"

Josie let out a long exhale and then looked at me, slight confusion in her eyes. "Hey, I didn't hear you mention anything about a… baby, did you?"

"Oh, no, of course not," I said, maybe a little too quickly. "Why would I say that?"

Josie blushed and said, "I really don't mean to intrude on your personal life, especially not after what you said to Hannah Elroy and Willa Weiley, but… I've been hearing rumors about you being… pregnant,"

"Josie…" I sucked in a breath. "Can you keep a secret?"

A hint of excitement creeped into her eyes as she said, "Uh… yeah! Of course!"

The door was already closed, but I closed my eyes and lowered my voice anyways. "It's true. I'm pregnant, and I… I was going to tell Jughead the day of the accident,"

"Aww," Josie said sympathetically. She sat down in the chair next to me, and held my hand in both of hers. "Don't worry, okay? Whatever you need, I'll be there. Whatever you need,"

I smiled and said, "Thank you, Josie. You have no idea how great it feels to have a support system,"

She smiled at me, and I smiled back. But I turned to look at Jughead, and she thankfully got the message, leaving the room quietly, closing the door behind her.

But who came in next? None other than the one and only Alice Smith. She had a sad look on her face, and closed her eyes and looked even sadder when she spotted me holding Jughead's hand.

"Betty," she said quietly, closing the door. "I'm sorry for how I reacted to your pregnancy, but I understand that you're keeping the baby, and am going to support you,"

I looked at her skeptically as I asked, "Really?"

She nodded. "Edgar says it's important that we forgive our loved ones, so I'm forgiving you,"

"Forgiving me for… what, exactly?" I asked, the curiosity clear in my voice.

Mom smiled and said, "Forgiving you for getting pregnant, of course! I mean, it's not like it was my fault!"

I scoffed. "You really just can't be nice to me, can you?" I let out a sigh, and placed Jughead's hand at his side. I stood closer to my mother and said, "Honestly, Mom, you should 'forgive me' or whatever because it's your decision. Not your cult-leader fiancee's decision,"

Mom just gave me a look that said something like, 'How could you? I'm hurt!' but I didn't care. She's literally going to marry a freaking cult-leader! How am I supposed to support that?

I gave her a look that told her to go away, which she did.

I talked to Jughead for about another two hours, when I finally got too tired to say almost anything. By that time I was just sitting next to Jughead's hospital bed, holding his hand, stroking it with my thumb, not knowing what else to do or say. One hand was holding his, the other on my stomach where a slight bump grew.

I asked Veronica if I could stay another night at her house, which she thankfully said I could, but even if I was going to stay there, I had to go back to the house my mother was selling to get some clothes.

Everything was in boxes in the house. All the rooms were packed up entirely. Well… all the rooms except my own. I sighed with relief at the feeling of familiarity, just by standing in that room.

As quickly as possible, I packed a bag that had as much clothes as could fit in it. And then I rushed out of the house, and reunited with Veronica, who had been sitting in her car while I packed.

"Got everything?" she asked.

I nodded. "Enough clothes to survive on,"

And then, we drove back to her family's apartment at the Pembroke.

Author's Notes: Hey all! So, obviously… Jughead's in a coma. I want to skip through a lot of the first few months in Betty's pregnancy, to get to the point where Jughead wakes up. But, I don't know if I should do like… two weeks a chapter, or a month a chapter, I don't know. Let me know! Because I obviously want to get to the point where Jug's in the story, but I also want there to be in-betweens. So, on that note, let's just end this right here and get right into the next chapter! Bye!